Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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 7.0)

The three tables provide information about the changes in the population of five districts of New York City along with the changes in the total population of the city from 1800 to 2000. Overall, there has been a drastic growth in the total population of the city over the years. The population has increased substantially in all the districts of the city but the percentage of total poulation in Manhattan has declined significantly. In contrast, the percentage of total population of the other four districts has had a gradual growth.

According to the first table, the population of New York City was just 79,216 in 1800 which nearly increased four times to 3,437,202 in the next century. The number rose even further to over eight million in the year 2000. The population aslo increased across all the years in Manhattan but the percentage of total population decreased significantly from 76% in 1800 to 54% in the following century and further declining to almost under 20% in 2000.

On the other hand, the percentage of population of other districts of New York City increased substantially from under a quarter in 1800 to over 80% in the year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population grew sharply, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ combined share rose. The figures for the city in 1800 and 1900 and Manhattan’s percentages are accurate, and the overview gives the reader a useful comparison. However, some key information is only partly reported: the 2000 city total is described as “over eight million” rather than given precisely, and the other districts’ population figures are omitted. More importantly, the statement that population increased in all districts is not supported by the tables: Manhattan’s population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. To strengthen the response, report this exception and include a few precise figures for the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the city and Manhattan, then a contrast with the other districts. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “According to the first table,” and “On the other hand” make the progression easy to follow, and the comparison between Manhattan and the rest of the city is clear. The final paragraph, however, is very brief and gives only percentage comparisons, so the discussion feels less balanced than the earlier paragraphs. Develop it with the other districts’ population figures and connect those details to the citywide growth. Also, avoid repeating “percentage of total population” by using clear references such as “their combined share.”

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “drastic growth,” “increased substantially,” “declined significantly,” and “in contrast.” These choices communicate the main patterns, and the language is generally appropriate to an academic summary. Some expressions are imprecise or repetitive: “nearly increased four times” is not a natural way to describe the change, and “gradual growth” does not accurately convey the sharp rise in the other districts’ share. There are also spelling slips in “poulation” and “aslo.” Aim for precise trend language and vary repeated phrases such as “percentage of total population.” For example, “rose nearly fourfold” and “combined share” would be more natural and concise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “but the percentage … has declined” and the time comparison from 1800 to 2000. Most sentences are clear, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. A few grammatical choices need attention. In “which nearly increased four times,” the relative clause makes the population sound as if it caused its own increase; a clearer construction is “which rose nearly fourfold.” The phrase “and further declining” is not parallel with “decreased”; use “and then declined further.” In the overview, “there has been” shifts to the present perfect despite the period ending in 2000; past simple would be more consistent. These are limited issues, but correcting them would make the comparisons more controlled.

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