Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-03
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 4.5)
The graph illustrates the proportion of the population residing in towns in nations such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, including future predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, Malaysia was at the highest in terms of population and expected to show a massive rise in cities' populations in the future. However, the Philippines experienced a decrease in residents of cities but will increase their population from 2030 to 2040.
A significant surge in number of people living in cities in Malaysia at 73%, between 1970 and 2020
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to cover all parts of the task. While you have attempted to introduce the topic and identify a main trend, the response is incomplete and stops abruptly mid-sentence. You have failed to report on the data for all four countries or provide a comprehensive summary of the trends over the specified period. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full overview, select key data points for all categories, and complete the task in full to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response is too short to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt at an introduction and an overview, the lack of a completed body paragraph makes it impossible to assess your ability to organize information coherently. The use of cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'However' is appropriate, but they are not supported by enough content to establish a clear structure. You need to develop your ideas into full paragraphs with clear topic sentences and supporting data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally accurate but limited in range. Phrases such as 'proportion of the population' and 'significant surge' are appropriate for an academic report. However, because the response is so brief, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary or the ability to use less common lexical items with precision. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more varied terminology related to trends, such as 'fluctuate,' 'plateau,' or 'gradual increase,' and ensure you have enough text to showcase this range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The sentences produced are grammatically sound, such as 'The graph illustrates the proportion of the population residing in towns.' However, the range of structures is limited. The response ends in a sentence fragment ('A significant surge in number of people...'), which indicates a lack of control over sentence completion. Because the text is so short, it is difficult to assess your ability to use a wide range of complex structures accurately. You should focus on writing complete, error-free sentences and incorporating a variety of complex grammatical forms.
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