Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The first table below shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

The tables show changes in the population of New York City and its five districts from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City increased greatly during this period. Manhattan had the largest population in the early years, but by 2000, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx had become much more populated. Staten Island remained the least populated district throughout most of the period.

In 1800, New York City had a population of about 60,000 people. Almost all of these people lived in Manhattan, while the other districts had very small populations. By 1850, the total population had increased to around 500,000. Manhattan still had the largest population, but Brooklyn had also grown significantly.

The population continued to increase during the following years. In 1900, New York City had more than 3 million people. Manhattan had around 1.8 million residents, while Brooklyn had more than 1 million. The Bronx and Queens also had much larger populations than in the previous years.

By 2000, the total population of New York City was about 8 million. Brooklyn and Queens had around 2.5 million and 2.2 million people respectively. Manhattan had about 1.5 million residents, while the Bronx had around 1.3 million. Staten Island had the smallest population, at about 0.4 million.

Overall, the main change was the very large growth in New York City's population, especially in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. The inclusion of specific data points for 1800, 1900, and 2000 provides good support for your observations. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that you make more direct comparisons between the districts throughout the text, rather than just listing figures for each, to better demonstrate the 'comparisons where relevant' requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Each paragraph has a central focus, which helps the reader follow the progression of data. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'but', and 'in the following years' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The flow is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately, including terms like 'significantly', 'residents', and 'distributed'. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it lacks a few more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the terminology used is consistently accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Manhattan had the largest population in the early years, but by 2000, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx had become much more populated.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are generally error-free, which indicates a high level of control. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or participle clauses, to demonstrate even greater flexibility.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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