Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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 7.5)
the given three tables compares the total population of new york city and the distribution of its population between manhattan and the other four districts- brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten island-in 1800, 1900, and 2000.
overall, new york city experienced extraordinary population growth over the two centuries. while manhattan dominated in 1800, its share of the city's population declined dramatically, and by 2000 the other four districts combined accounted for more than four-fifths of the total.
in 1800, new york had a small population of only 79,216. manhattan housed 60,515 residents, representing 76% of the total, while the other districts contained just 18,701 people, or 24%.
by 1900, the city population had exploded to 3,437,202. although manhattan population grew to 1,850,093, its proportion fell to 54%. the population of the other districts increased at a faster rate to 1,587,109, comprising 46% of the city, almost equal to manhattan.
by 2000, the total population more than doubled again to 8,009,185. significantly, manhattan population actually decreased to 1,538,096 accounting for only 19% of the total. in contrast, the other districts surged to 6,471,089, making up 81% of new york's population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the significant shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons between the years and the districts are clear and relevant. The overview provides a concise summary of the key findings, which is essential for a high band score. To reach the highest band, ensure that all data points are presented with complete precision, as the report is already well-structured and covers the requirements comprehensively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific time period, which makes the information easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'in contrast' are used effectively to link ideas and contrast the data between Manhattan and the other districts. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the analysis. The flow of information is smooth, and the progression of ideas is logical throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, including terms like 'extraordinary population growth', 'dominated', 'declined dramatically', and 'surged'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication. To improve further, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'population' or 'increased' to demonstrate a wider range of lexical flexibility, although the current usage is already quite effective and accurate for the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'while manhattan dominated in 1800, its share of the city's population declined dramatically'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence structures are varied. There are a few minor slips, such as missing articles (e.g., 'manhattan population' should be 'Manhattan's population') and capitalization errors (e.g., 'new york city'). However, these are minor and do not impede the clarity of your report. The majority of your sentences are error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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