Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

**The graph illustrates the percentage of people living in cities in four Asian countries between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.**

**Overall,** urban populations increased in all four countries over the period. Malaysia experienced the most significant and consistent growth and is expected to remain the most urbanised country by 2040. In contrast, the Philippines showed some fluctuations, while Thailand recorded the slowest growth.

To begin with, around 30% of the population in both Malaysia and the Philippines lived in cities in 1970. Malaysia then experienced a steady rise throughout the period, reaching about 75% in 2020, and it is predicted to increase further to approximately 80% by 2040. The Philippines, however, rose from about 30% to nearly 50% in 1990 before declining slightly. After 2010, the figure increased again and is expected to exceed 55% by 2040.

Meanwhile, Indonesia had the lowest urban population in 1970, at less than 20%. However, it grew rapidly after 2000 and is forecast to reach around 60% by 2040. Thailand showed the slowest increase, remaining relatively stable until the 1990s before rising gradually. It is predicted to reach about 50% by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview and selected key features to describe, such as Malaysia's consistent growth and the comparative trends among the four nations. The data is accurately reported, and the inclusion of projections for 2030 and 2040 demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the graph. The information is well-selected and supports the main trends identified. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the most striking differences or similarities between the countries, such as the fact that Malaysia's urban population in 1970 was already higher than Indonesia's projected figure for 2040, which would add depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to specific country comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'To begin with', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction/overview from the body paragraphs. The flow of information is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is professional and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'most significant and consistent growth', 'projections', and 'forecast to reach' are used accurately. There is a good attempt to use varied terminology to describe trends, such as 'rising gradually' and 'remained relatively stable'. While the vocabulary is appropriate and natural, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terms related to urban development could elevate the lexical range further. Overall, the language is precise and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used a variety of grammatical forms, including passive constructions ('is expected to remain', 'is forecast to reach') and subordinate clauses, which are handled with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors in grammar that affect clarity. The majority of your sentences are error-free, demonstrating a strong command of English grammar. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with more varied sentence openers or more complex comparative structures to further showcase your grammatical flexibility.

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