Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The graph predicts the percentage of population living in cities for 2030 and 2040 and gives its trends from 1970 to 2020.
From 1970 to 2020, there is an increased in percentage of population living in cities for all four Asian countries. Malaysia has the largest increase in this trend while Thailand has the smallest increase in this trend. After 2020, Malaysia`s city population percentage is predictded to increase at a very slower rate. Thailand`s city population percentage is predictded to increase form 30% to 50%.
Indonesia`s city population percentage was 10% in 1970. That increased to 50% in 1970 and predicted to be at 60% till 2040. Philippines have the most stable graph and predicted city population is alsmot 60% by 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response identifies the broad upward trend and notes that Malaysia rises most while Thailand rises least over 1970–2020. However, the overview is incomplete and several key comparisons are missing, including Malaysia’s position as the highest by 2040 and Indonesia’s strong growth. Some figures are substantially inaccurate: Indonesia is reported as 10% in 1970 and 50% in 1970, whereas the chart shows about 14% in 1970 and 52% in 2020. Thailand is described as rising from 30% to 50% after 2020, although it is about 33.5% in 2020 and 49.5% in 2040. The response is also 27 words below the required minimum, limiting its coverage. Select accurate key figures and compare the countries across the full period.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a paragraph about overall trends, and a final paragraph with country-specific details. This gives the reader some organisation, and transitions such as “From 1970 to 2020” and “After 2020” help signal time periods. However, there is no clear overall progression from a concise overview to well-organised supporting details. The final paragraph shifts abruptly from Indonesia to the Philippines, and the repeated phrase “city population percentage” makes the links between points mechanical. The inaccurate repetition of “in 1970” also disrupts the timeline. Grouping the countries by their trends and using clearer references to dates would make the progression easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The response uses relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “increase,” “trend,” “stable,” and “predicted,” so the main topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, particularly the repeated “city population percentage” and “increase in this trend.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “predictded,” “form,” and “alsmot,” which reduce accuracy. “Very a slower rate” is an awkward collocation, and “most stable graph” is not a precise way to describe the Philippines’ changing figures. Use more varied terms such as “urban share,” “rose,” and “is projected to,” while checking spelling and choosing natural collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response communicates its main points through mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to combine ideas, such as “Malaysia has the largest increase in this trend while Thailand has the smallest.” However, grammatical control is uneven. “There is an increased” uses the wrong form after “is”; “percentage of population” lacks an article or possessive determiner; and “Philippines have” has subject–verb agreement and article problems. The sentence “That increased to 50% in 1970 and predicted to be at 60% till 2040” also has unclear tense and an incomplete passive construction. These errors do not make the whole response unintelligible, but they weaken precision. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and complete forms such as “is predicted to reach.”
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