Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-26

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 8.5)

The tables display data about the total population figures in New York City and its districts over a two-century period from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, New York City experienced massive population growth over the two centuries. While Manhattan initially housed the clear majority of the city's residents, this demographic distribution reversed completely by 2000, with the outer districts dominating the total population share.

In 1800, New York City's total population stood at a modest 79,216 residents. The vast majority of these individuals lived in Manhattan, which accounted for 60,515 people or 76% of the city's total. By contrast, the combined population of the remaining four districts (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) was only 18,701, representing just 24% of the total share.

Over the subsequent century, the city's overall population grew drastically to 3,437,202 by 1900. During this time, Manhattan's population peaked at 1,850,093, though its proportional share fell to 54%. Concurrently, the other districts witnessed immense growth, surging to 1,587,109 residents and claiming 46% of the city's populace.

By the year 2000, the total population of New York City had more than doubled again, reaching 8,009,185. While Manhattan's population experienced a moderate decline to 1,538,096 (dropping its share to an all-time low of 19%), the other districts exploded to 6,471,089 residents, capturing a dominant 81% of the total city population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of New York City's population changes from 1800 to 2000, along with the district-level breakdown. The student selects key data points, such as the initial dominance of Manhattan (76% in 1800) and its subsequent shift by 2000 where the outer districts captured 81% of the total population. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the overarching trend of massive population growth and the demographic reversal between Manhattan and the other districts. All cited figures are accurate and precisely matched to the visual data. The response meets all criteria for Band 9 under Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

The essay is exceptionally well-organized and easy to follow. Information and ideas are logically sequenced chronologically and topically, moving from the introduction to the overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs for each time period (1800, 1900, and 2000). Paragraphing is used logically and effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'While Manhattan initially', 'By contrast', and 'Over the subsequent century' are employed naturally and unobtrusively to guide the reader through complex comparative data without mechanical repetition. Referencing throughout the text is clear, ensuring a smooth and logical progression of ideas that satisfies the requirements for a high band.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The candidate demonstrates a wide, flexible, and precise lexical resource appropriate for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and phrases are used naturally and with a strong awareness of collocation, such as 'demographic distribution reversed completely', 'modest 79,216 residents', 'proportional share', 'concurrently', and 'exploded to'. Word choices are accurate, and spelling is flawless. While the language does not rely on overly obscure idioms, the vocabulary is sophisticated and deployed with a high degree of control and fluency, aligning comfortably with the descriptors for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

The student exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. Sentences such as 'While Manhattan initially housed the clear majority of the city's residents, this demographic distribution reversed completely by 2000...' demonstrate excellent command over subordinate clauses and participle constructions. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is managed meticulously. There are no noticeable systemic errors or awkward phrasings that impede communication. The control of grammar throughout the response is robust and fully justifies a top-tier band score.

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