Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-29

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 8.0)

The tables compare the population of New York City and show how the distribution of residents between Manhattan and the other four districts changed in the years 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Overall, New York City experienced remarkable population growth over the two centuries. While Manhattan contained the majority of the city's population in the early years, its share declined significantly by 2000, as the other four districts became home to most of the residents.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of only 79,216 people. Of these, 60,515 lived in Manhattan, accounting for 76% of the total population, while the remaining 18,701 residents (24%) lived in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

By 1900, the city's population had increased dramatically to 3,437,202. Manhattan's population rose to 1,850,093, although its proportion of the total population fell to 54%. In contrast, the population of the other four districts grew sharply to 1,587,109, representing 46% of the city's residents.

The upward trend continued in 2000, when New York City's population reached 8,009,185. However, Manhattan's population decreased to 1,538,096, making up only 19% of the total. Meanwhile, the other districts experienced substantial growth, with their combined population climbing to 6,471,089, or 81% of all residents.

In conclusion, although New York City's population expanded enormously over the 200-year period, population growth became increasingly concentrated outside Manhattan, whose share of the total population declined steadily.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a thorough overview and selecting key data points accurately from the tables. The response successfully reports the main features and makes clear, relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other four districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. For instance, the student correctly highlights that Manhattan held 76% of the population in 1800, which dramatically shifted to 19% by 2000, while the other districts rose to 81%. The data is accurately cited without any noticeable errors in reading the tables, and the progression of the trends is well-supported by specific population figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Each paragraph has a clear purpose, starting with an introduction and overview, moving through chronological body paragraphs for each year, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'In contrast', and 'Meanwhile' are used naturally and effectively to link ideas and contrast the population shifts between Manhattan and the other districts. Paragraphing is used appropriately, contributing to a smooth progression of ideas throughout the entire essay.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to an academic report. Phrases such as 'remarkable population growth', 'declined significantly', 'increased dramatically', and 'substantive growth' show a strong command of collocation and scale. Less common lexical items are used naturally, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The vocabulary allows for precise descriptions of trends and proportions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures used accurately and flexibly. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, featuring well-controlled subordinate clauses and participial phrases, such as 'accounting for 76% of the total population, while the remaining 18,701 residents... lived in Brooklyn'. Punctuation is handled with precision, and grammatical control is consistently maintained throughout the response, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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