Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-31

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 graph shows that urban population percentage in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, all four countries significant urbanization growth. Malaysia continuously increases12 in the chart after 1980, while Indonesia shows the most rapid fastest growth. And Thailand stayed at the bottom of the graph.

In 1970, the Philippines had the highest urban population at 32% and just above Malaysia 30%. However, Malaysia expanded rapidly, overtaking the Philippines by 1980 to reach 75% in 2020 and peak of over 80% by 2040. the Philippines dropping between 1990 and 2010 before rising to 50% in 2020.

Thailand and Indonesia began lowest in 1970 at 19% and 17%. Indonesia then grew very fast and overtaking Thailand by 1990 and the Philippines by 2010 and reached for nearly 65% by 2040. Meanwhile Thailand grew much fast and reaching 30% in 2020 and expecting 45% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all parts of the task, identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons between the four countries. The overview is present, though it could be more clearly articulated. The data is generally accurate, such as noting the Philippines' initial lead and Malaysia's steady growth. However, some descriptions of the data are slightly imprecise, such as the claim that Indonesia grew 'very fast' without specifying the timeframe clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are highlighted with more precise data points and that the overview provides a clearer summary of the overall trends across the entire period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on specific countries. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'Meanwhile', and 'In 1970', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors. For instance, the transition between the Philippines and Malaysia in the second paragraph is slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is consistently clear would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends (e.g., 'expanded rapidly', 'overtaking', 'urbanization growth'). There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'significant urbanization growth' (should be 'significant growth in urbanization') and 'reached for nearly 65%' (the 'for' is unnecessary). Additionally, there are minor errors like 'most rapid fastest growth', which is redundant. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing verbs ('all four countries significant urbanization growth'), incorrect verb forms ('the Philippines dropping'), and punctuation issues. Some sentences are fragmented or lack necessary articles. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that every sentence contains a clear, correctly conjugated main verb.

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