Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

A line graph demonstrates the evolution of four Asian countries population that are living in cities from the year 1970 up to today followed with predictions of their evolution for the next 24 years.

Overall, it is expected that all Asian countries studied will follow an increase in their cities population with some at higher rates than others.

In fact, from 1970 to today all four of Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines had effectively grown in their city population. While some had a continuous increase others showed some fluctuations. For instance, Philippines had an interesting evolution. Starting with an increase from 1970 to 1980 it then peaked in 1990 at a 50 per cent rate which then was followed with a slight decrease until 2010 where rates go back to a positive growth. For the other countries, per centages continuously kept increasing from year to year. Indonesia and Malaysia had the largest growth with about respectively 40 and 45 per cent increase with a soar in 1990 for Malaysia cities population. For the upcoming years a steady increase in per centages are expected for the studied countries. Ending with respectively about 85, 62, 55 and 48 per cent for Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers the main features of the graph and identifies key trends. You successfully highlight the overall upward trajectory and provide specific data points for the countries mentioned. However, the analysis of the Philippines is slightly inaccurate regarding the timeline and the data interpretation, and the description of the 'soar' in 1990 for Malaysia lacks sufficient clarity. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited with greater precision and that the comparison between countries is more explicit. The overview is clear, but the body paragraph could benefit from a more structured approach to comparing the four nations rather than focusing on them individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraph. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'While,' 'For instance,' and 'For the other countries,' which help the flow of information. However, the transition between the general overview and the specific details could be smoother. Additionally, some sentences feel slightly disjointed, and the paragraphing is limited; splitting the body into two paragraphs—perhaps grouping the countries by growth patterns—would improve the overall structure and readability. The referencing is generally clear, though some connections between sentences could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'evolution,' 'fluctuations,' 'peaked,' and 'steady increase.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'per centages' (which should be one word) and 'soar' used as a noun in a slightly awkward context. You also repeat 'increase' and 'population' several times. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations related to data trends, such as 'upward trend,' 'dramatic rise,' or 'plateaued.' The current vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly but lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'four Asian countries population' (should be 'four Asian countries' populations'), 'all four of Malaysia... had effectively grown' (awkward phrasing), and 'per centages continuously kept increasing' (redundant). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. To achieve a higher score, focus on reducing these minor errors and increasing the variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more relative clauses or passive voice constructions to describe the data.

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