Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-06
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 first table illustrates changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables give information about the population change of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the total population of New York City increased substantially over the period given. Although the proportion of the total population of Manhattan decreased, the percentage of the other four districts increased significantly.
The number of individuals in New York City in 1800 was 79216. These figures rose to [redacted phone] in 1900, and [redacted phone] in 2000. Similarly, the other four districts including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island increased from 18701 in 1800 to [redacted phone] in 1900 and [redacted phone] in 2000 respectively. These figures were relatively lower than the total population of New York City. Furthermore, these numbers represented an increase of the total population from 24% in 1800, to 46% in 1900 and 81% in 2000 respectively.
By contrast, the values of Manhattan were 60515 in 1800, [redacted phone] in 1900 and [redacted phone] in 2000. This represented a decrease as percentage of the total population from 76% in 1800 to 54% in 1900 and 19% in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response effectively identifies the main trends in the data, contrasting the overall population growth with the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other four districts. You have selected key data points (1800, 1900, 2000) to support your summary. However, the description of the 'other four districts' is slightly confusing; you refer to them as a group, but the data provided in the tables shows individual district figures. While you have successfully highlighted the main features, a more precise breakdown or a clearer distinction between the individual districts and the aggregate would have improved the clarity of the analysis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the total population and the district-specific trends. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Although', 'Similarly', and 'By contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear. The referencing is generally accurate, though the transition between the total population figures and the district-specific percentages could be slightly smoother to avoid repetitive sentence structures.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'increased substantially', 'proportion of the total population', and 'represented a decrease' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, it lacks a wider variety of less common lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is generally handled well. There are occasional minor issues, such as the phrasing 'increased from 18701 in 1800 to 1587109 in 1900 and 6471089 in 2000 respectively', where the use of 'respectively' is slightly awkward given the three time points. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede the reader's understanding of the data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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