Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-02
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 given illustration depicts the percentage of population living in various cities of Asia, and the prediction till 2040.
It is predicted that the highest proportion of Malaysians will live in cities by 2040 as compared to other three countries, which was only 30% in 1970. However, the population percentage in urban areas will remain lowest in Thailand. Although the number of people live in cities in Indonesia was only 10% in 1980, it surpassed Thailand and Philippines' percentage in 2020. Furthermore, fluctuations were noticed in Philippines numbers from 1970 to 2020 while it will follow upward trend in the future. It can be observed from the picture that all countries is about to experience an increasing trend in the coming fourteen years. In 2000, there was same percentage of individuals in Indonesia and Thailand who preferred to live a city life.
Overall, the city residents' ratio would incline in all given Asian countries in the coming years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the trends for all four countries and the future projections. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention that Malaysia will have the highest proportion and Thailand the lowest, you miss opportunities to provide specific data points to support these comparisons. For instance, stating that Indonesia 'surpassed' Thailand and the Philippines is good, but including the approximate percentages at that intersection would have strengthened the response. The overview is present but could be more detailed by highlighting the general upward trajectory across all nations more clearly. To improve, ensure you select key data points to illustrate your points rather than just describing the trends in general terms.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is generally coherent, and the information is logically sequenced. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'Although' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within one paragraph, which hinders the logical flow. A better structure would involve an introduction, a clear overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs grouping the countries or trends. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Improving the use of paragraphing and varying your cohesive devices will help the reader follow your argument more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'fluctuations', and 'upward trend'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'Philippines numbers' is slightly informal, and 'preferred to live a city life' is a bit wordy and imprecise for an academic report. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Try to use more academic collocations and precise terminology related to data description to elevate your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while not impeding communication, are noticeable. For example, 'all countries is about to experience' should be 'all countries are about to experience', and 'there was same percentage' is missing an article ('the same percentage'). Additionally, 'Philippines numbers' requires an article ('the Philippines' numbers'). While you attempt complex structures, the control over subject-verb agreement and articles needs improvement. Focusing on these basic grammatical accuracy points will help you achieve a higher score.
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