Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12

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 8.0)

The tables illustrate changes in the population of New York City as a whole and show how its population was distributed between Manhattan and the other four districts in 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Overall, New York City experienced a dramatic increase in population over the period. However, Manhattan's share of the city's population declined substantially after 1900, while the other four districts grew rapidly and became home to the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers by 2000.

In 1800, New York City had a population of just 79,216, of whom 60,515, or 76%, lived in Manhattan. The remaining 18,701 people were distributed across Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, accounting for 24% of the total. By 1900, the city's population had risen dramatically to 3,437,202. Although Manhattan still had the larger population, at 1,850,093, its share had fallen to 54%, while the other districts collectively accounted for 46%, with 1,587,109 residents.

By 2000, the total population had more than doubled again, reaching 8,009,185. In contrast to the overall growth, Manhattan's population actually fell to 1,538,096, representing only 19% of the city's total. The populations of the other four districts, however, increased enormously to 6,471,089, meaning that their share had risen to 81%. Thus, the population balance shifted decisively away from Manhattan over the 200-year period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully covered all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City and making relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other four districts across the three given years (1800, 1900, and 2000). The overview paragraph clearly highlights the overarching trends, such as the dramatic overall population increase and the shift in population share away from Manhattan. Key data points, such as exact figures and percentages for 1800, 1900, and 2000, are accurately cited and integrated effectively to support the description. The response is fully developed and well-focused on the prompt requirements without including any irrelevant information, demonstrating a complete understanding of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from an introduction and overview to detailed body paragraphs. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the first body paragraph deals with 1800 and 1900, while the final body paragraph discusses 2000 and summarizes the 200-year shift. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'Overall', 'However', 'In 1800', 'By 1900', 'Although', and 'In contrast to the overall growth'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods and themes, ensuring the text is easy to follow and cohesive throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary is used precisely to describe statistical trends, using phrases such as 'dramatic increase', 'declined substantially', 'grew rapidly', 'rose dramatically', and 'shifted decisively'. Collocations are natural and accurate, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The use of functional reporting language ('accounting for', 'collectively accounted for', 'representing only') elevates the quality of the writing and showcases a strong control of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including participial phrases ('of whom 60,515, or 76%, lived in Manhattan'), concessive clauses ('Although Manhattan still had the larger population...'), and comparative structures. The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, displaying excellent control over punctuation and tense consistency (primarily past simple). There are no noticeable grammatical slips, and the complexity of the syntax enhances the fluency and sophistication of the report.

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