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 three given tables provide a comparison of the changes in the total population of New York City over a period of two centuries, along with the percentage distribution of residents across its five districts—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island—over the same period.
Overall, while the population of New York City was growing dramatically, the once-dominant Manhattan lost most of its share to the other four districts.
In the first table showing district data, Manhattan was noted to have a large proportion of the residents at 76%, totaling approximately 60,489 people in the first year of the survey (1800). Despite this, residents began shifting to other places, thereby reducing Manhattan's share, even reaching the point that in 2000 it accounted for only 19% with 1,537,195 citizens. This was lower than in 1900, when it housed nearly half of the city's inhabitants with a total count of 1,850,093.
Meanwhile, the other four districts became significantly more urban over that period, eventually absorbing the majority share of the city's population. In 1800, the four combined had only 18,748 residents, representing 24% of the total. By 1900, this figure had grown to 46%, reaching 1,587,116 inhabitants. Furthermore, the year 2000 showed an even more substantial increase, climbing to 6,471,787 citizens, which constituted 81% of the total 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 | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You have successfully selected key data points to illustrate the decline in Manhattan's population share and the corresponding growth in the other four districts. The comparison between 1800, 1900, and 2000 is well-handled, and the inclusion of both raw numbers and percentages adds depth to the analysis. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the information is accurately reported based on the provided tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile,' 'Despite this,' and 'Furthermore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used skillfully to separate the analysis of Manhattan from the other districts, ensuring a smooth progression of ideas. The referencing is clear, and the structure supports the overall argument without being repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'percentage distribution,' 'dominant,' 'inhabitants,' and 'constituted.' The word choices are precise and contribute to a professional tone. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to statistical trends could elevate the response further toward a band 9 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the participial phrase 'thereby reducing Manhattan's share' and the relative clause 'which constituted 81% of the total population.' The majority of your sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for this task.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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