Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22

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 shows the total change in population in numbers of all five districts of New York City over the period of 200 years from 1800 to 2000, whereas the second table displays the population of Manhattan and the other four grouped together over the same period.

Overall, it is notable from the first table that there was a significant increase in the population over the period, while in terms of district population, Manhattan's population fell steadily and others' populations rose considerably.

According to the first table, in 1800, the population was 79,216; by 1900, it moderately grew to 3,437,202, before rising dramatically to 8,009,185 by 2000.

According to the second table, Manhattan's population was highest at 76% in 1800, whereas other districts combined population was just 24%. By the time, in 1900, Manhattan's and other districts' populations came near each other at 54% and 46%. By 2000, there was a sudden change: Manhattan's population dramatically fell to 19%, while other districts' populations rose steeply to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by presenting a clear overview of the data and selecting the key features from both tables. The response accurately notes the overall massive population growth of New York City from 1800 to 2000, rising from 79,216 to over 8 million. Furthermore, it accurately highlights the contrast between Manhattan, which experienced a steady proportional decline, and the other four districts, which grew significantly both in population size and percentage share. The figures quoted are accurate and directly reflect the visual data provided. The information is well-selected, and the main comparisons are made effectively, satisfying all requirements of the task achievement descriptor for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an appropriate introductory paraphrase, followed by a well-constructed overview paragraph that captures the primary trends. The subsequent body paragraphs present the specific numerical and proportional data in a logical order, moving from the citywide figures in the first table to the district breakdowns in the second table. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'Overall', and 'By 2000' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, ensuring that each distinct element of the prompt is addressed in its own section without any confusion or structural awkwardness.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to an academic task reporting trends and figures. Expressions such as 'significant increase', 'dramatically fell', and 'rose steeply' are used appropriately to describe data movements. While some of the vocabulary is slightly repetitive ('other districts' populations'), the lexical choices generally allow for precision. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as 'By the time, in 1900', but these minor slips do not impede communication. The use of percentage and numerical reporting vocabulary is accurate and fits the context of Task 1.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'whereas the second table displays...', 'before rising dramatically to...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over grammar and punctuation is generally sound. There is a minor slip in the prepositional phrase 'other districts combined population' (which should be possessive: 'other districts' combined population'), but this does not impede comprehension. Complex structures are attempted with good accuracy, earning a solid score for grammatical range and control.

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

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