Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15
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 table compares the population of New York city and its distribution between Manhattan and other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) in the years 1800, 1900 and 2000,
Overall the New York city's population increased dramatically over 200 years period. At the same time, Manhattan's share of the total population declined considerably, while the proportion of residents living in the other districts rose steadily.
In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216 people. Of these, 60,515 people or 76% lived in Manhattan, whereas only 18,701 residents 24% lived in the other districts.
By 1900, the city's population had grown sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan remained the most populated district with 1,850,093 inhabitants, accounting for 54%nof the total population. In contrast, the combined population of the other districts reached 1,587,109, representing 46%.
In 2000, New York City's population rose further to 8,009,185. However, Manhattan's population fell to 1,538,096, making up only 19% of the city's residents, while the other districts expanded significantly to 6,471,089 people, or 81% of the total.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features, selecting appropriate data points, and making relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts across the three given years. The overview clearly highlights the overarching trends, noting the dramatic overall population growth and the shifting proportion of residents away from Manhattan towards the other districts. All figures cited, such as the total populations and respective percentages, are accurately drawn from the visual data without noticeable errors or omissions, fulfilling the requirements for Band 8.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped coherently, moving from an introductory overview into well-structured body paragraphs detailing specific years (1800, 1900, and 2000). Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'by 1900', and 'in contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through comparisons and temporal shifts without being overly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate each timeframe, demonstrating strong command of this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic report. Phrases such as 'increased dramatically', 'declined considerably', 'rose steadily', and 'accounting for' show good control of collocation and style. There is an occasional minor typo or slip, such as '54%nof' in the fourth paragraph, but this does not impede communication or detract significantly from the overall lexical competence displayed, landing the response solidly in the Band 7 range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
A good variety of complex and compound sentence structures is employed effectively throughout the response, such as 'Of these, 60,515 people or 76% lived in Manhattan, whereas only 18,701 residents 24% lived in the other districts.' The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing strong grammatical control and accurate punctuation. Minor slips, like the missing preposition 'of' before '24%' in the third paragraph, are rare and non-systematic, easily justifying a Band 8 score for this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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