Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-24

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 7.5)

The graph shows the percentage of the total population living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040. The countries include the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Malaysia and Indonesia start at around 30% and 15% in 1970, respectively, and see a continuous upward trend. However, the rate of increase in both countries slowed down from 1980 to 2000. According to the predictions, both show a slower increase in the percentage of the total population as they reach the year 2040, suggesting it is nearing a plateau.

Thailand shows an almost flat increase from 1990 to 2020. However, the graph predicts it will start increasing more rapidly after 2020.

The Philippines is the only one with a downward trend, which spans from 1990 till 2020, before the percentage of the total population starts increasing. Both the Philippines and Malaysia start at nearly 30%; however, the Philippines reaches a high of around 50% in 2040, while Malaysia reaches 80% in the same year.

Overall, the graph shows an upward trend in the number of people living in the cities across all four countries, to varying degrees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four countries and included relevant data points to support your descriptions. However, the analysis of the Philippines is slightly inaccurate; the graph shows a steady increase from 1970 to 1990, followed by a period of stability, rather than a downward trend. Additionally, while you mention the start and end points, more precise comparisons between the countries at specific intervals (e.g., 2000 or 2020) would have strengthened the response. Overall, you have addressed the task requirements well, providing a clear summary of the key features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on specific countries or trends. The use of cohesive devices such as 'however,' 'according to,' and 'overall' helps guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother; for instance, the jump between the discussion of Malaysia/Indonesia and Thailand could be better linked to show the contrast in their growth patterns more explicitly.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'continuous upward trend,' 'nearing a plateau,' and 'varying degrees' are used appropriately. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the task of describing trends. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'percentage' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of language, such as using 'climb,' 'surge,' or 'proportion.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good control of grammar, using a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally accurate. There are minor issues with tense consistency when discussing predictions versus historical data, but these do not impede communication. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'it is predicted that...') or more advanced conditional or relative clauses to describe the data trends.

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