Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-16

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 tables illustrate changes in the population of New York City as a whole and in Manhattan and the other four districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the total population of New York City increased dramatically during the period. Although Manhattan had the largest population in 1800 and 1900, its population declined slightly by 2000, while the other four districts experienced substantial growth and accounted for the majority of the city's population at the end of the period.

In 1800. New York City has a total population of 79,216, of which 60,515(76%) lived in Manhattan. The remaining four districts had only 18,701 people, representing 24% of the total. By 1900, the city's population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan's population reached 1,850,093, although its share fell to 54%, while other districts contained 1,587,109, or 46%.

By 2000, the total population had more than doubled from the 1900 figure, reaching 8,009,185. Manhattan's population decreased to 1,538,096, and its proportion fell considerably to just 19%. In contrast, the population of the other districts increased dramatically to 6,471,089, accounting for 81% of New York City's total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the overall population trends and comparing Manhattan with the other four districts across the three designated years. Key features, such as the massive overall growth and the demographic shift from Manhattan to the other districts, are successfully identified and supported with accurate data from the tables, such as the shift from 76% in Manhattan in 1800 to 81% in the other districts by 2000. The overview is clear and well-integrated. All data points cited are faithful to the source material, and the response satisfies all core requirements for this criterion at a high level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a well-crafted overview paragraph, and then breaks down the specific data chronologically into the 1800-1900 period and the 2000 period. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally to connect ideas, such as 'Although Manhattan had', 'while the other four districts', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct time frames and thematic focuses, making the text easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic report on demographic data. Appropriate terms such as 'increased dramatically', 'declined slightly', 'substantial growth', 'proportion', and 'demographic shift' (or equivalent descriptive phrasing) are utilized effectively. There are only occasional minor lapses, such as a punctuation slip in 'In 1800. New York City has...', but overall word choice and collocation are handled with good control and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

A good mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the text, including subordinate clauses ('Although Manhattan had the largest population...') and participial phrases. Grammatical control is generally strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. There is a minor tense slip in the third paragraph ('In 1800. New York City has a total population...'), where the present tense is used instead of the past, but this is an isolated mechanical slip that does not impede communication. Punctuation is generally sound.

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