Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The provided table illustrates and compares the changes in total population of New York city and its various districts over a 200 year period from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is clear that the total population of New York city experienced a massive and continuous increase throughout the period. Furthermore, while Manhattan initially held the majority of population in 1800, the other districts surpassed by the year 2000.
In 1800, the total population of New York city stood at 79,216, with Manhattan accounting for majority at 60,515 (76%). In contrast, the remaining districts had a combined population of only 18,701, making up just 24% of the total. By 1900, the city's total population grew significantly to reach 3,437,202. During the time Manhattan's population rose to 1,850,093 representing (54%), while the other districts grew rapidly to 1,587,109 with the share of 46%.
By the year 2000, the overall population surged to 8,009,185. Interestingly, Manhattan's population declined slightly to 1,538,096, dropping its percentage to 19%. ON the other hand, the other districts experienced rapidly growth reaching 6,471,089 with 81% of the total shares.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the overall population and comparing Manhattan with the other districts over the 200-year period. Key data points, such as the initial and final populations and percentages, are accurately cited from the visual data. An appropriate overview is presented in the second paragraph, highlighting the continuous growth of the city and the shifting population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. The information is well-selected and fully supported with figures without unnecessary listing of every minor detail, demonstrating a clear understanding of the academic task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organised with a clear progression from introduction to overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs for 1800/1900 and 2000 respectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', 'By 1900', and 'On the other hand' are managed well to guide the reader through the comparisons. Reference words are handled effectively, and the overall structure flows smoothly, ensuring that information is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic task, using appropriate terms like 'continuous increase', 'surged', 'majority', and 'percentage'. There are occasional slight lexical inaccuracies or awkward phrasing, such as 'rapidly growth' instead of 'rapid growth', and a missing preposition in 'accounting for majority' (accounting for the majority). However, the vocabulary is varied enough to allow precise reporting of data, and these minor slips do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Furthermore, while Manhattan initially held the majority of population in 1800, the other districts surpassed by the year 2000.' Punctuation is generally well controlled, though there are a few minor slips including a capitalisation error ('ON the other hand') and minor grammatical infelicities like 'the other districts surpassed' (where a passive construction or active object would be clearer). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate and demonstrate good control.
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