Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The line chart illustrates the changes in percentage of the population living in cities of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020. It also includes the predictions for 2030 and 2040 by analyzing the previous data.
Overall, Malaysia is observed as the popular among all with maximum proportion compared to others, whereas percentage of Thailand is slightly disappointed because of its decline.
Philippines and Malaysia were the most percentage sharing cities as of 1970 with 30%, Malaysia stand out by boosting above 80% as predicted for 2040. On the other hand, Philippines graph has been dramatically encountered with inclines and declines. Eventually, finalizing its prediction with a slights increase above 50% finishing at the third position.
After Malaysia, Indonesia is the country that grabs attention by enhancing its population percentage from 10% in 1970 to 50% in 2020. Prediction scores suggest Indonesia could end up at the second spot with a rise up to 60%. Thailand has also enhanced its population with 30% in 2020 compared to 20% in 1970, but the research predicts it could end up being the least population percentage country with just above 40% until 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. You successfully identified the main trends, such as Malaysia's significant growth and the overall upward trajectory of the urban population. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by imprecise language; for example, describing Thailand's trend as 'slightly disappointed' is not appropriate for a data report, as it attributes human emotion to statistical data. Additionally, some data points are described vaguely, such as 'above 80%' or 'above 50%', when more precise reporting would better reflect the graph's details. To improve, focus on objective reporting of the data rather than subjective interpretation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas as you move from country to country. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'After Malaysia, Indonesia is the country that grabs attention'. The transition between sentences could be smoother to improve the flow. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the logical links between the data points could be strengthened to ensure the reader follows the comparisons more easily.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'proportion', 'dramatically', and 'predictions'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'most percentage sharing cities' and 'the research predicts it could end up being the least population percentage country'. These errors occasionally make the text sound unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid informal or emotive language like 'disappointed' when describing trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'Malaysia stand out' (subject-verb agreement), 'Philippines graph has been dramatically encountered' (incorrect verb usage), and 'a slights increase' (pluralization error). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the main features of the graph. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive versus active voice when describing data trends.
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