Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04

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 table chart illustrates information regarding changes in the population of New York as a whole and in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the other three districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, it is evident that the population of New York increased dramatically over a period. Although Manhattan accounted for the vast majority of the population in 1800, its share declined considerably over the time period, while the remaining four districts experienced substantial growth.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216 (76%) lived in Manhattan. In 1900, the city's population had risen sharply to 3,437,202 with Manhattan containing 1,850,093 people, equivalent to 54% of the total. However, by 2000, the overall population had more than doubled again reaching 8,009,185, while Manhattan's population fell to 1,538,096 representing only 19%.

In contrast, the combined population of the remaining four districts increased enormously, In 1800, these four districts had just 18,701 residents or 24% of the city's population. Their population rose to 1,587,096(46%) in 1900 and then increased dramatically to 6,471,089 by 2000. consequently, their share of the City total population reached 81%,

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 in New York. You effectively contrasted the decline in Manhattan's proportional share with the significant growth in the other districts. The selection of data points (1800, 1900, and 2000) is appropriate for highlighting the long-term changes. However, the response could be improved by providing a more detailed comparison of the specific districts mentioned in the second table, rather than grouping them entirely as 'the remaining four'. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'However', and 'In contrast' are used to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the district-specific data. While the flow is generally smooth, there is a minor punctuation error at the end of the final sentence (a comma instead of a period), and the transition between the final two sentences could be slightly more refined to improve the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'declined considerably', 'sharply', and 'representing'. The language is precise and conveys the trends accurately. There is a minor error in the final sentence where 'consequently' is used with a lowercase letter after a comma, and the phrasing 'City total population' is slightly awkward. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition, but the current range is sufficient to communicate the information clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses starting with 'Although' and 'while'. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as the missing verb in the first paragraph ('over a period' should be 'over the period') and the punctuation error at the end of the text. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The use of numbers and percentages is handled accurately within the sentence structures.

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