Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-21
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 illustrate changes in the total population of New York City and its five districts between 1800 and 2000.They also give information about the percentage of the total population living in Manhattan and the other four districts.
Overall, the population of New york City inceased very significantly during the 200 year period. Although Manhattan had the largest share of the population in 1800, its proportion decreased over time, while the other four districts became much more populated.
In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216. Manhattan accounted for 60,515 people, which was 76% of the total. In comparison, the other districts together had only 18,701 people, or 24%. By 1900, the city's population had increased to about 3.4 million. Manhattan also grew to around 1.85 million, but its share fell to 54%, while the other districts accounted for 46%, with about 1.59 million people.
By 2000, the total population had reached approximately 8 million. Manhattan's population decreased slightly from 1.85 million in 1900 to 1.54 million, and its share fell considerably to just 19%. On the other hand, the population of the other four districts increased dramatically to about 6.47 million, representing 81% of the city's total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by presenting data from all three tables, outlining the main trends in the total population of New York City and contrasting the changing proportions of Manhattan versus the other districts. The overview effectively captures the massive overall population growth and the shift in demographic dominance away from Manhattan. All figures cited, such as the 1800 population of 79,216 and the 2000 figures of 1.54 million for Manhattan and 6.47 million for the other districts, are accurate and directly drawn from the visual data. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized and easy to follow. Ideas are logically sequenced, beginning with an introductory paragraph, followed by a clear overview paragraph, and concluding with well-structured body paragraphs detailing the specific years (1800, 1900, and 2000). Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'while', 'In comparison', 'By 1900', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader through chronological and comparative shifts. Paragraphing is used appropriately throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic report writing, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', 'significantly', 'dramatically', and 'representing'. Word choices are generally precise, allowing the writer to describe trends accurately. There is a minor spelling slip ('inceased' instead of 'increased' in the second paragraph), but this is an isolated error and does not impede communication. Less common lexical items are used appropriately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
A good mix of simple and complex sentence structures is employed throughout the response, including dependent clauses ('Although Manhattan had the largest share...') and compound-complex forms. Grammatical control is generally strong with frequent error-free sentences. Minor mechanical slips occur, such as a missing space after a period ('2000.They') and the spelling typo noted earlier, but these errors are infrequent and do not obscure the intended meaning.
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