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 population of New York City was slightly under 80,000 in the year 1800. At this time, Manhattan contained slightly more than three-fourths of the entire population(more than 60,000) while Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island altogether accounted for only one-fourth of the entire population of New York City.

In the following century, New York's population grew more than 40 times to about 3.4 million. During this period, the split between Manhattan and the other four districts became almost equal. Manhattan accounted for a bit more than half of the city's population(a little over 1.8 million) and the remaining half fell under the other four districts.

In the century following 1900, New York's population had grown more than 100 times the population which was recorded in 1800, crossing 8 million. However during this period, Manhattan contained less than one-fifth of the entire cities population and the remaining majority(more than 6.4 million) were residing in the other four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population changes over the two centuries. You have successfully selected key data points to illustrate the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the response could be improved by providing a more detailed comparison of the individual districts (e.g., Brooklyn or Queens) rather than grouping them all together as 'the other four districts' throughout the entire report. While the main features are covered, a more nuanced breakdown of the specific growth patterns of the smaller districts would have provided a more comprehensive analysis of the provided tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific time period (1800, 1900, and 2000). This chronological approach makes the information easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In the following century', 'During this period', and 'However' are used effectively to link ideas and signal transitions between timeframes. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of information is clear. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied cohesive devices to avoid repetitive sentence structures and improve the flow between the specific data points and the broader trends.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'accounted for', 'residing in', and 'recorded in' are used accurately. There is an attempt to use precise language, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive. For instance, the word 'population' is used frequently. To improve, try to use synonyms or alternative ways to refer to the data, such as 'demographic figures' or 'inhabitants'. Additionally, ensure correct punctuation with possessives, as seen in 'entire cities population', which should be 'entire city's population'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound, which ensures that the information is communicated without difficulty. There are a few minor errors, such as the missing apostrophe in 'cities' (should be 'city's') and some slightly awkward phrasing in the final paragraph. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or more sophisticated relative clauses, to demonstrate greater control over your writing.

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

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