This is my IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of the population of New York City from the newly released Cambridge 20 books of past IELTS tests.
IELTS Cambridge 20 Task 1 Essay: Population of New York City
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.
In the year 1800, the vast majority of New York City’s total population (79,216) was situated in Manhattan (60,515 or 76%), far above the corresponding figure for other outlying districts (18,710 or 24%). Over the subsequent century, there occurred a pronounced shift with a narrow majority of 54% of the population (1,850,093) living in Manhattan and 46% outside the city center (1,587,109). The total population figure also surged to 3,437,202.
In the last one hundred years, the pattern detailed above only increased in velocity as other districts now represent 81% of the population at a total population figure of 6,471,089. In contrast, residents in Manhattan slipped to 19%, or 1,538,096. The combined total was 8,009,185.
Analysis
1. In the year 1800, the vast majority of New York City’s total population (79,216) was situated in Manhattan (60,515 or 76%), far above the corresponding figure for other outlying districts (18,710 or 24%). 2. Over the subsequent century, there occurred a pronounced shift with a narrow majority of 54% of the population (1,850,093) living in Manhattan and 46% outside the city center (1,587,109). 3. The total population figure also surged to 3,437,202.
1. In the last one hundred years, the pattern detailed above only increased in velocity as other districts now represent 81% of the population at a total population figure of 6,471,089. 2. In contrast, residents in Manhattan slipped to 19%, or 1,538,096. 3. The combined total was 8,009,185.
- Switch to the other table.
- Vary short and long sentences.
- Include everything and keep comparing.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
In the year 1800, the vast majority of New York City’s total population (79,216) was situated in Manhattan (60,515 or 76%), far above the corresponding figure for other outlying districts (18,710 or 24%). Over the subsequent century, there occurred a pronounced shift with a narrow majority of 54% of the population (1,850,093) living in Manhattan and 46% outside the city center (1,587,109). The total population figure also surged to 3,437,202.
In the last one hundred years, the pattern detailed above only increased in velocity as other districts now represent 81% of the population at a total population figure of 6,471,089. In contrast, residents in Manhattan slipped to 19%, or 1,538,096. The combined total was 8,009,185.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Original: detail overall population figures
Synonym: outline total demographic numbers
Original: in statistics concerning the surrounding boroughs
Synonym: within data related to neighboring districts
Original: compared to
Synonym: in contrast with
Original: Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the dramatic overall growth
Synonym: From a broad viewpoint, it is clear that the significant expansion
Original: strongly correlated with increases
Synonym: closely linked to rises
Original: population growth outside of
Synonym: demographic expansion beyond
Original: proportional dominance of the outer boroughs over
Synonym: relative majority of the peripheral areas compared to
Original: widened notably
Synonym: expanded significantly
Original: in the last century in particular
Synonym: especially over the past hundred years
Original: the vast majority of
Synonym: a substantial proportion of
Original: situated in
Synonym: located within
Original: far above the corresponding figure for other outlying districts
Synonym: well beyond the equivalent number in other peripheral regions
Original: Over the subsequent century
Synonym: Throughout the following hundred years
Original: there occurred a pronounced shift
Synonym: a significant transformation took place
Original: a narrow majority of
Synonym: a slight predominance of
Original: outside the city center
Synonym: beyond the urban core
Original: surged
Synonym: rose sharply
Original: In the last one hundred years
Synonym: Over the past century
Original: pattern detailed above only increased in velocity
Synonym: the previously described trend only accelerated
Original: represent
Synonym: account for
Original: at a total population figure of
Synonym: reaching an overall demographic count of
Original: residents
Synonym: inhabitants
Original: slipped
Synonym: declined gradually
Original: combined total
Synonym: aggregated sum
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈdiːteɪl ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊn ˈfɪɡəz ɪn
stəˈtɪstɪks kənˈsɜːnɪŋ ðə səˈraʊndɪŋ ˈbʌrəz
kəmˈpeəd tuː
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt ðə drəˈmætɪk ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl ɡrəʊθ
ˈstrɒŋli ˈkɒrəleɪtɪd wɪð ˈɪnkriːsɪz
ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊn ɡrəʊθ ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ɒv
prəˈpɔːʃᵊnᵊl ˈdɒmɪnəns ɒv ði ˈaʊtə ˈbʌrəz ˈəʊvə
ˈwaɪdᵊnd ˈnəʊtəbli
ɪn ðə lɑːst ˈsɛnʧᵊri ɪn pəˈtɪkjələ
ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
ˈsɪʧueɪtɪd ɪn
fɑːr əˈbʌv ðə ˌkɒrɪˈspɒndɪŋ ˈfɪɡə fɔːr ˈʌðər ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ ˈdɪstrɪkts
ˈəʊvə ðə ˈsʌbsɪkwənt ˈsɛnʧᵊri
ðeər əˈkɜːd ə prəˈnaʊnst ʃɪft
ə ˈnærəʊ məˈʤɒrəti ɒv
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə ˈsɪti ˈsɛntə
sɜːʤd
ɪn ðə lɑːst wʌn ˈhʌndrəd jɪəz
ˈpætᵊn ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv ˈəʊnli ɪnˈkriːst ɪn vəˈlɒsəti
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt
æt ə ˈtəʊtᵊl ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊn ˈfɪɡər ɒv
ˈrɛzɪdᵊnts
slɪpt
kəmˈbaɪnd ˈtəʊtᵊl
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
In the year 1800, the _____________ of New York City’s total population (79,216) was s________d in Manhattan (60,515 or 76%), far __________________________________________________ districts (18,710 or 24%). Over ____________________ century, there __________________________________ shift with a narrow _______________ of 54% of the population (1,850,093) living in Manhattan and 46% outside _____________ center (1,587,109). The total population figure also s________d to 3,437,202.
In ___________________________ years, the pattern _____________________________________ velocity as other districts now r__________t 81% of the population at ____________________________ of 6,471,089. In contrast, r_________s in Manhattan s_______d to 19%, or 1,538,096. The c_______________ total was 8,009,185.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City/The-boroughs
Speaking Practice
Where You Live (Full EBook for this topic here on Patreon.)
Do you live in an apartment or house?
What views can you see through the windows?
What kind of apartment or house do you want to have in the future?
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