Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19
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 first table illustrates the total population of New York city between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables show the population of five different districts, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.and their percentanges in the total population of New York over the same period.
Overall, the total population of New York city increased significantly throughout the period. The share of Manhattan district in the total population decreased dramatically, while the figure of the other districts increased over the period.
In 1800, New York recorded 79216 people, which increased to 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000. The population of Manhattan district was 60,515 in 1800, rising to 1,850,093 in 1900, before experiencing a decline to 1,538,096 in 2000. Meanwhile, the contribution of Manhattan district to the total population of New York declined from 76% in 1800 to 54% in 1900 and 19% in 2000.
On the other hand, the population of other districts grew from 18,701 in 1800 to 1,587,109 in 1900 and 6,471,089 in 2000. However, their share in the total population rose from 24% to 81% between 1800 and 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting an accurate summary of the visual data across the provided years. Key features, such as the overall population growth and the shifting distribution between Manhattan and the other districts, are clearly reported. Data points are accurately cited from the tables without any notable misinterpretations or fabrications. An overview is present in the second paragraph, capturing the macro trends effectively. The comparisons made between Manhattan and the other districts are relevant and well-grounded in the factual data. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7.0 in Task Achievement by providing a clear overview and highlighting key trends and comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is arranged logically with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph paraphrasing the prompt, followed by an overview paragraph, and then detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different sets of data. Cohesive devices are employed effectively, such as 'Meanwhile', 'On the other hand', and 'However', guiding the reader through the comparisons. Although referencing and linking are generally clear, the transition between sentences in the second paragraph could be slightly smoother. Overall, the essay demonstrates clear logical organization and progression throughout, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'illustrates', 'increased significantly', 'decreased dramatically', and 'contribution' demonstrate a functional control of lexical items. However, there are minor issues with word formation and punctuation in the introduction, specifically 'percentanges' and a missing space and capital letter in 'city.The'. While some less common lexical items are attempted, vocabulary remains somewhat standard rather than sophisticated. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The student successfully utilizes complex structures such as adverbial clauses of time ('before experiencing a decline to...') and relative reference. Grammatical control is generally good, with frequent error-free sentences describing numerical trends. However, there are minor mechanical errors, including a missing capital letter for 'city' and a punctuation slip in the introduction where a period is misplaced before 'and their percentanges'. Despite these occasional errors, communication is never impeded, and the control of grammar is consistent with a Band 7.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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