Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-26

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 illustrates the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, there were many ups and downs in the Philippines. In Malaysia there was a steady increase. In Thailand percentage of total population remained stable.

To begin with, in the Philippines there were many ups and downs till 2020 in 1970 there was 30% of total population by the 1990 it rose and came to 50% until 2040 it is predicted that there will be more than 50% of total population. In Thailand there was also rised in total population but it remained stable.

Moreover, in Malaysia there was sharp increase in 1970 there was 30% of total population by the 2024 it is predicted that it will reach 80% of total population. In Indonesia there was also an upward trend in 1970 it was less than 20% but by the 2040 it is predicted that it will reach 60% of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. However, the analysis is quite superficial. The description of the Philippines as having 'many ups and downs' is vague and lacks specific data points to support the trend. Furthermore, the claim that Thailand 'remained stable' is inaccurate based on the provided graph, which shows a clear upward trend. The report lacks a clear overview of the main trends, such as the general growth across all countries. To improve, you should focus on identifying the most significant changes and comparing the countries more effectively rather than listing data for each country in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'In [Country] there was...'. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the lack of clear linking words makes the relationship between the data points feel disjointed. To improve, try using a wider variety of cohesive devices like 'in contrast', 'meanwhile', or 'subsequently' to connect your ideas more fluidly and show the relationship between the different countries' growth patterns.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited. You frequently use phrases like 'percentage of total population' and 'there was a...'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'there was also rised', which is grammatically incorrect and lexically imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied verbs to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', 'plateaued', or 'experienced a gradual climb', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that hinder clarity, such as 'there was also rised' and 'by the 1990 it rose'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences where clauses are not properly separated. The use of articles is occasionally missing or incorrect (e.g., 'in 1970 there was 30%'). To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring subject-verb agreement. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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