Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-20
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 five districts—Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island—in 1800, 1900 and 2000.
Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the period. However, Manhattan’s share of the total population declined considerably, while the proportion living in the other four districts increased substantially.
In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216. Manhattan accounted for approximately 76% of this figure, with 60,515 residents. By contrast, the other four districts had a combined population of around 18,701, representing only 24% of the city’s total.
By 1900, the population of New York City had risen sharply to approximately 3.437 million. Manhattan’s population increased to around 1.85 million, but its share of the total fell to 54%. Meanwhile, the population of the other districts reached approximately 1.587 million, accounting for 46% of the total.
In 2000, the city’s population had increased further to 8.009 million. Although Manhattan’s population was approximately 1.538 million, its proportion had fallen significantly to just 19%. In contrast, the other four districts experienced substantial growth, reaching a combined population of about 6.471 million, or 81% of New York City’s total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing an accurate summary of the population changes in New York City and its districts from 1800 to 2000. Key features, such as the overall dramatic growth of the city and the shifting distribution of population between Manhattan and the other four districts, are clearly highlighted and supported with relevant data. For example, the writer correctly contrasts Manhattan's initial dominance in 1800 (76%) with its decline by 2000 (19%), while accurately citing the inverse trend for the remaining districts. The overview is well-formulated, and the figures quoted are closely aligned with the source data. This meets the criteria for Band 8.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Ideas are well organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview, and then moving chronologically through the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and effectively to guide the reader through the data without being obtrusive, such as 'By contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is utilized sufficiently to separate the different time periods and analytical angles. There is a clear logical progression throughout, warranting a Band 8.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary is used precisely to describe trends and proportions, with strong lexical choices such as 'increased dramatically', 'declined considerably', 'substantially', and 'proportion'. Less common phrasing is used fluently, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. The vocabulary allows for a precise description of the statistical data presented in the tables. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 8 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over tense consistency (past simple for historical data) and punctuation is excellent. Examples such as 'Although Manhattan’s population was approximately 1.538 million, its proportion had fallen significantly to just 19%' demonstrate flexible syntactic control. Errors are virtually non-existent, making this a strong Band 8 performance.
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