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 line graph illustrates the information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, The population from 1970 to 2020 were increased every year so it assume tha in future it will be more higher than past years.

According to given data, In 1970 the population of Philippines and Malaysia approximately same but in 2020 Philippines population increased to 45% and Malaysia population rose up to 75%.

Moreover, In 1970, There were 19% of total population of Thailand and 12% of Indonesia but then in 2020, their population jumped to 30% and 50% respectively.

Furthermore, it assume that in from 2030 to 2040 the Philippines population will be 55% and Malaysia population will be 80%. In 2040 the total population of Thialand will be 50% and 60% of total population of Indonesia.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and report several relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s rise from about 30% to 75% and Indonesia’s growth to around 50% by 2020. However, the overview is inaccurate: “the population … were increased every year” suggests all four countries rose continuously, whereas the Philippines declined after 1990 before recovering. The overview also misses the key contrast that Malaysia is projected to remain highest, while Thailand stays lowest until its later rise. Some figures are misreported: Thailand was about 33%, not 30%, in 2020, and Indonesia is projected at about 64%, not 60%, in 2040. The response is 129 words, below the required 150, and this limits the detail and coverage of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, an overview, and then details about 1970–2020 followed by forecasts. Linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Furthermore” help signal additions, and the reader can generally follow the country comparisons. However, the progression is quite mechanical, with each paragraph largely listing figures rather than grouping the most important trends. The overview is too broad to guide the details, and the final sentence combines two separate forecasts without making the comparison especially clear. Improve cohesion by organising the body around contrasting patterns—for example, Malaysia’s strong rise, Indonesia’s rapid growth, and the slower or fluctuating trends in the Philippines and Thailand—and use clearer references to the years and countries.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “percentage,” “population,” “rose,” “increased,” and “prediction,” so the basic meaning is usually clear. There is some variation in describing change, including “rose up” and “jumped,” but several expressions are repetitive or imprecise. “The population … living in cities” is sometimes shortened to “their population,” which can obscure that the figures refer to the urban share of each country’s population. Phrases such as “it assume” and “more higher” are not natural choices, while “prediction” would be better expressed as “projections” in this context. Spelling errors, including “tha” and “Thialand,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise collocations and a wider range of trend language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the basic comparisons can generally be understood. However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “the population … were increased” has incorrect agreement and verb form, while “so it assume tha in future it will be more higher” contains several errors in clause construction and comparison. Capitalisation after commas is inconsistent, as in “According to given data, In 1970,” and articles are missing in phrases such as “According to given data.” Most sentences follow similar basic patterns, with limited control of more complex structures. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and forecast forms, and build sentences around the percentage of the population living in cities rather than “the population” alone.

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