Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)
The three tables detail changes in the overall population of New York City alongside a breakdown between Manhattan and the remaining four boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, New York City experienced massive population growth across the two centuries. Furthermore, while Manhattan initially dominated the city's demographic makeup, its share experienced a dramatic decline over time, yielding dominance to the other four districts.
In 1800, New York City’s total population stood at just 79,216. Over the following century, this figure surged exponentially to reach over 3.4 million in 1900, before more than doubling to hit approximately 8 million by the year 2000—representing more than a hundredfold expansion overall.
Regarding district distribution, Manhattan accommodated 60,515 residents in 1800, representing 76% of the city’s total population, whereas the other districts combined held only 24% (18,701 people). Although Manhattan's absolute population grew significantly to peak at around 1.85 million in 1900, its percentage share decreased to 54%. By 2000, Manhattan’s population dropped slightly to 1,538,096, which accounted for a mere 19% of the total. Conversely, the combined population of the other districts skyrocketed to over 6.4 million by 2000, ultimately making up the vast majority (81%) of New York City's residents.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The student fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear overview and effectively reporting the main features and trends across the three tables. Data is accurately cited and compared, noting both absolute figures and percentage shares for Manhattan and the other districts from 1800 to 2000. Key highlights, such as Manhattan's initial dominance and subsequent decline alongside the massive growth of the outer boroughs, are well developed and supported by precise figures from the text, matching the Band 9 descriptor.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from general trends to specific district comparisons. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction and overall statement, followed by total population growth, and finally a detailed breakdown of the districts. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'whereas', and 'Conversely' are used naturally and effectively without being obtrusive. Paragraphing is used appropriately throughout, demonstrating strong control over structural cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'surged exponentially', 'demographic makeup', 'yielded dominance', and 'skyrocketed' showcase skillful use of uncommon lexical items. Word choice and collocations are used naturally, with only occasional minor choices, easily meeting the criteria for a high band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The writing features a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, utilizing participial phrases ('representing more than a hundredfold expansion overall') and subordinate clauses effectively. Control of punctuation and grammar is robust, ensuring smooth and precise communication throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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