Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The tables show changes in the population of New York City and the distribution of its residents between Manhattan and the other four districts from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, New York City’s population increased dramatically over the period. However, Manhattan’s proportion of the total population declined considerably, while the other districts experienced the opposite trend.

In 1800, New York City had a population of only 79,216, of whom 60,515 (76%) lived in Manhattan. The remaining 18,701 people (24%) lived in the other districts. By 1900, the city’s population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan contained 1,850,093 residents, accounting for 54%, while the other districts represented 46%.

By 2000, the total population had reached 8,009,185. Although Manhattan’s population fell to 1,538,096, its share decreased dramatically to just 19%. In contrast, the population of the other districts increased to 6,471,089, representing 81% of the city’s total.

these information shows the tables .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population shifts. You selected relevant data points to support your summary, such as the percentages in 1800 and 2000, which effectively illustrate the changing distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. The response covers all parts of the task well. However, the final sentence, 'these information shows the tables', is redundant and grammatically incorrect, which slightly detracts from the professional tone of the report. To improve, ensure that all data is integrated into the body paragraphs rather than adding a fragmented concluding sentence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'By 1900', 'Although', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the time periods. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the total population and the district distribution is clearly articulated. The only issue is the final sentence, which feels disconnected from the rest of the text and disrupts the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-driven task, such as 'increased dramatically', 'declined considerably', 'risen sharply', and 'accounting for'. These phrases demonstrate a sufficient range for precision. There are no significant errors in word choice, and the terminology used to describe the trends is accurate. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for 'other districts' or 'population' to avoid repetition, although the current level is already quite strong for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'of whom 60,515 (76%) lived in Manhattan' and 'Although Manhattan’s population fell to 1,538,096, its share decreased dramatically'. Most sentences are error-free and demonstrate good control over punctuation and tense usage. The final sentence, 'these information shows the tables', contains a subject-verb agreement error ('information' is uncountable) and is syntactically awkward. Aside from this minor slip, the grammatical control is consistent and accurate throughout the text.

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