Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18

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 tables provide information about changes in the population of New York City as a whole and the populations of its five districts, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the 200-year period. Manhattan had the largest population for much of the period, although its share of the city's total population declined considerably. In contrast, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island experienced substantial growth, particularly during the twentieth century.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of approximately 79,000 people, of whom around 60,000 lived in Manhattan. By 1850, the city's population had risen to about 515,000, with Manhattan accounting for roughly 515,000? [correction: the district figures should be taken directly from the table]. The total population continued to grow rapidly, reaching approximately 3.4 million in 1900 and 7.9 million in 2000.

The figures for the individual districts show that Manhattan's population increased significantly during the nineteenth century, reaching its highest level at around 2.3 million in 1910, before falling gradually to about 1.5 million by 2000. Brooklyn, meanwhile, grew from a relatively small population in 1800 to more than 2.4 million in 2000. Queens and the Bronx also experienced particularly strong growth during the twentieth century. Queens rose to become the most populous district by 2000, with approximately 2.2 million residents, while the Bronx had around 1.3 million. Staten Island remained the least populated district, despite its considerable increase from about 5,000 people in 1800 to around 440,000 in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main trends in the total population of New York City and comparing the changes across its districts between 1800 and 2000. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting both the dramatic overall growth and the shifting distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. Data is selected appropriately to support these points, such as citing the overall figures of approximately 79,000 in 1800 to over 8 million in 2000. However, there is a minor mechanical slip in the third paragraph where the student writes 'with Manhattan accounting for roughly 515,000? [correction: the district figures should be taken directly from the table]' — this appears to be a copy-paste artifact or a drafting note left in the text, which slightly mars the execution. Nevertheless, the core data presentation remains accurate and well-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used effectively, with a clear separation of introduction, overview, overall population growth, and district-specific details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'meanwhile' are employed naturally to guide the reader through comparisons and temporal shifts. The progression from broad city-wide trends to specific district analyses is smooth and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary appropriate for an academic task report. Phrases like 'increased dramatically', 'declined considerably', 'experienced substantial growth', and 'most populous district' showcase a strong command of lexical items related to data analysis. Word choice is generally precise, and collocation is natural. Minor errors do not impede communication, and the range is more than sufficient to achieve a high band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex grammatical structures used accurately, such as participial phrases ('of whom around 60,000 lived in Manhattan') and subordinate clauses indicating concession and time ('although its share... declined considerably', 'before falling gradually'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Control over grammar is strong, though occasional minor drafting anomalies occur, keeping the score just below the highest tier.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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