Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-11

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 6.0)

The graph shows population's percentage data in four Asian countries (Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) residing in cities between 1970 and 2020. It also provide data of future for years 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population's percentage living in cities increased in all the countries over the period. Malaysia made the highest population living in cities while Thailand showed lowest percentage.

Population of Philippines and Malaysia showed an increment over the years but also had some fluctuations. In 1970, both countries were approximately at the same percentage which was 30%. In 1990, both countries population remained nearly same which was a quite less than 50%. After that Malaysia made progress on the graph and reached a slightly higher than 70% in 2020. In 2040, the predticted population of Malaysia living in city will be greater than 80%.

While, Philippines showed a decline in 2010 which was slightly higher than 40%. In 2040, it will be approximately 50% population living in cities. Thailand and Indonesia had lowest percentge of population in 1970 (between 10 to 20%). After that, there was a continuous increment in population in both countries over the years. In 2000, both countries population reached the same percentage of 30%. In 2040, predicted population for Indonesia will be 60%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall upward trend and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s strong rise and the lower starting figures for Thailand and Indonesia. Several figures are broadly accurate, such as Malaysia exceeding 70% in 2020 and Indonesia reaching about 60% by 2040. However, the overview is not fully precise: Thailand is the lowest only at the beginning, while the Philippines is not consistently the second-highest. Some comparisons also need correction or clearer support: in 1990 Malaysia was slightly below the Philippines, and in 2000 Indonesia and Thailand were approximately equal, not necessarily exactly the same. Include Thailand’s modest growth and its projected rise to about 50% to give the later trends fuller coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs grouping the countries. The sequence generally follows the timeline, and transitions such as “After that” and “While” help connect changes. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. “While” begins a fragment-like transition, and “After that” is repeated without specifying the period or comparison. The paragraph grouping also leaves Thailand’s and Indonesia’s later figures unevenly developed: Indonesia’s projection is stated, but Thailand’s is omitted. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each comparison directly to the relevant years—for example, contrast Indonesia’s rapid rise after 2000 with Thailand’s slower growth.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant trend vocabulary, including “increased,” “decline,” “fluctuations,” and “reached,” so the main information is understandable. However, several repeated or unnatural expressions limit precision, particularly “population’s percentage,” “made progress on the graph,” and “increment in population.” These describe the data imprecisely; the graph measures the share of people living in cities, not population growth itself. There are also spelling errors such as “predticted” and “percentge,” alongside awkward collocations such as “population living in city.” Aim for concise, conventional chart language such as “the urban population share rose” or “the proportion living in cities.” This would make the account more natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors recur, however. In the introduction, “It also provide” needs subject–verb agreement (“It also provides”), while “Malaysia made the highest population living in cities” lacks a grammatical, natural comparison. Articles and number are also inconsistent in phrases such as “in city” and “both countries population.” The sentence beginning “While, Philippines showed a decline” has faulty punctuation and an incomplete linking structure; write “The Philippines, meanwhile, declined…” Some tense choices are also awkward when describing predictions. Practise accurate comparative sentence patterns and check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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