Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31

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 tables illustrate changes in the total population of New York City and the populations of its five districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, New York City experienced a dramatic increase in population over the period, rising from less than 80,000 people in 1800 to almost 8 million in 2000. Manhattan was the most populous district for much of the period, although Brooklyn overtook it temporarily in the late 19th century. By 2000, however, Brooklyn had the largest population, followed by Queens.

In 1800, New York City had a population of approximately **79,000**, most of whom lived in Manhattan. The city's population then grew steadily, reaching about **1.5 million by 1900**. During this period, Brooklyn also expanded considerably and had become the largest district by 1890, with over **800,000 inhabitants**. Manhattan's population continued to rise but at a slower rate.

During the 20th century, the city's population increased further, reaching around **7.9 million in 2000**. Manhattan's population peaked at approximately **2.3 million in 1910** before gradually declining. In contrast, **Queens and the Bronx** experienced substantial growth throughout the century. Queens showed particularly rapid expansion, increasing from roughly **150,000 people in 1900 to more than 2.2 million in 2000**.

By 2000, Brooklyn had about 2.5 million residents**, making it the largest district, while Queens had just over 2 million. The Bronx and Manhattan each had around 1.3–1.4 million, whereas **Staten Island remained the least populated**, despite experiencing significant growth during the 20th century.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the total population trends and successfully highlighted the key shifts in district populations, such as Brooklyn's rise to become the most populous area and the rapid growth of Queens. The selection of data is relevant, and you have made appropriate comparisons between the districts and across the time periods. The information is well-supported by the figures provided in the tables, and the main features are clearly identified and reported without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the general overview to specific district trends. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the overall summary, and the detailed analysis of the 19th and 20th centuries. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'During this period', and 'By 2000' are used naturally to link sentences and paragraphs. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the report very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'dramatic increase', 'expanded considerably', 'gradually declining', and 'rapid expansion' show a good command of descriptive language. The terminology is precise and fits the context of population statistics well. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the information with precision and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('although Brooklyn overtook it temporarily...') and participial phrases ('making it the largest district'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is accurate. The control over tense usage is consistent, correctly shifting between the past simple for historical data and the present perfect or simple present for summarizing the overall trends.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.