Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The line graph illustrates how the percentage of the population living in urban areas in four differerent Asian countries including future pridictions for 2030 and 2040. Overall, Malaysia lead the way of population in cities, while Thailand has least in the graph.

First of all, Thailand and Indonesia began with similar 15% population lived in urban areas and Indonesia has sharp increases from 2000 to 2020(up to 50%) and also predicted for 2040 upto 60%. Furthermore, Thailand has lowest in the prediction graph, however, Malaysia and Philippiness began with 30% lived in urban areas in 1970, therefore Malaysia has dramatic rise and predicted upto 80% in 2040 and Philipiness has steady rise and fall from 1990 to 2020 and steady climb to 50% in 2040.

To sum up all, there are dramatic shift migrated toward the cities with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that Malaysia has the highest urban share and that Thailand remains relatively low, and you include some relevant comparisons and forecasts. However, coverage is partial: the overview does not clearly describe the contrasting growth of Indonesia and the more uneven trend in the Philippines, and several figures are inaccurate. For example, Thailand and Indonesia did not begin at similar levels (about 18% versus 14%), and Indonesia was already around 52% in 2020, not 50% only as a general rise from 2000. Malaysia and the Philippines were both near 30% in 1970, but Malaysia reached about 84% by 2040, while the Philippines was closer to 56%. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum. Add a fuller overview and accurate key comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, a main paragraph and a concluding sentence, and phrases such as “Overall” and “Furthermore” signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph moves between Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines without a clear grouping or sequence, making comparisons harder to follow. Some linking is also imprecise; “therefore” does not clearly express the relationship between Malaysia’s and the Philippines’ trends. The final sentence repeats the general idea of urban growth rather than drawing together the main contrasts. Organise the body by trend—for example, the stronger growth in Malaysia and Indonesia, then the lower or fluctuating figures for Thailand and the Philippines—and use links that accurately show comparison or contrast.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “predictions,” “dramatic rise,” and “steady climb,” so the reader can understand the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “lead the way of population in cities,” “lowest in the prediction graph,” and “dramatic shift migrated toward the cities.” Spelling errors, including “differerent,” “pridictions,” and “Philippiness,” are noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the response. Aim for precise language for describing data, such as “had the highest proportion,” “was projected to reach,” and “the urban population share increased.” Check spelling carefully and avoid using dramatic wording unless the data clearly supports it.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sentence beginning “while” and one using “however,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in “Malaysia lead” and “Thailand has least,” while “15% population lived” lacks a grammatical structure needed to express the figure. The sentence beginning “First of all” also combines several ideas with weak punctuation, and “To sum up all, there are dramatic shift” has problems with article use and singular–plural agreement. These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise accurate comparative sentence patterns, such as “Malaysia had the highest proportion, while Thailand had the lowest,” and use past forms for historical data and “is projected to” for forecasts.

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