Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The provided graph provide information of the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, and also provide predictions for 2030 and 2040. Overall, the population in Malaysia rose dramatically after 1990, while Indonesia's population increased steadily after 2000. Philippines' figure showed mixed data during whole period. Thailand's population increased but less than all other given countries.

Regarding from 1970 to 2020, the major rise in population were seen in Malaysia and the population showed rocket after 1990 with approximately 45% and reached to 85% in 2020. Indonesia and Thailand population also increased with less proportion, at 50% and 30% in 2020, respectively. The population of Philippines showed mixed data, it showed rise and fall both, a major rise were seen in 1990 with approximately 50%.

Turning the future predications, Malaysia's population will increase and will reach at approximately 80% in 2040, while the population of Indonesia will duther rise in 2030 and 2040 and predicted to reach at 60%. The population of Philippines and Thailand also increased but less than other two countrie

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main broad patterns: Malaysia rises strongly, Indonesia grows, and the Philippines fluctuates. However, several key figures and comparisons are inaccurate or incomplete. Malaysia is reported at about 85% in 2020, whereas the graph shows about 76%; its value is around 84% in 2040, not 80%. Indonesia is about 52% in 2020 and 64% in 2040, rather than reaching 60% as the final prediction. The overview also says Thailand increased less than every other country, although its rise from 18% to about 50% is greater than the Philippines’ overall increase. The response covers past and predicted periods, but the overview and selected details need more accurate comparisons and clearer reporting of the main endpoints.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by discussion of the historical data and then predictions. Phrases such as “Regarding from 1970 to 2020” and “Turning the future predictions” signal these stages, but the progression within paragraphs is not always clear. The overview repeats that the Philippines showed “mixed data,” and the country-by-country comparisons are not consistently organised around the most useful trends. Some linking language is awkward or repetitive, and the final sentence is incomplete, leaving the discussion of the Philippines and Thailand’s forecasts unfinished. Grouping countries by trend and using clearer transitions would make the information easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “predictions,” “increased steadily,” and “rise and fall,” so the reader can understand the general trends. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph. “Population showed rocket” is not an appropriate collocation; “rose sharply” would be clearer. “Mixed data” is vague, while “fluctuated” describes the Philippines more precisely. There are also word-form and spelling problems, including “predications,” “duther,” and “countrie.” Repeated use of “population” and “increased” makes the account less precise. Aim for accurate trend verbs and vary how you refer to the urban share.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, including clauses joined with “while,” but errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to interpret. For example, “The provided graph provide” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the major rise in population were seen” has incorrect agreement and passive construction. Articles and prepositions are also problematic in phrases such as “at approximately 45%” and “reached at 85%.” The sentence about future figures, “will duther rise … and predicted to reach,” lacks a consistent verb structure, and the final sentence is unfinished. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, complete verb phrases, and sentence boundaries before adding more complex structures.

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