Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The line graph illustrates that comparision in percentage of people living in urban areas in four asian countries, namely the philippines, malaysia , thailand and indonesia in 1970 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, The proportion of people living in cities is expanded in all four countries. malaysia recodes the highest population in urbanisation throughout the period, while thailand remains the less urbanised all period compaired to other countries.
In 1970, around 30% population in both malaysia and philippines countries. compaired with 18% of thailand and 13% in indonesia. By after 1990, the population of malaysia has sharply increased 80%. In philippines has risen 49%. and it has slightly decraes the in 2010 and it has increased in 55%.
meanwhile the indonesia showed the moat significant increase , climbing from about 13% in 1970 to 30% in 2000. before rising rapidly and roughly 60%in 2030 and over 60% in 2040
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, identifying the overall upward trend and the relative positions of the four countries. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, stating that Malaysia reached 80% after 1990 is not supported by the graph, and the description of the Philippines' trend is confusing and lacks clarity. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the figures and the failure to clearly distinguish between historical data and future predictions hinder the overall task achievement. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the distinction between past, present, and future trends is clearly articulated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'By after 1990' and 'meanwhile the indonesia' are awkward and disrupt the flow of information. The logical progression is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors that make it difficult to follow the comparison between countries. While there is an attempt to group information, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive sentence structure limit the coherence of the response. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring clear referencing would significantly enhance the readability of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several spelling errors, such as 'comparision', 'recodes', 'compaired', 'decraes', and 'moat', which detract from the professional tone required for an Academic Task 1. The word choices are often imprecise, such as 'expanded' to describe a percentage or 'less urbanised all period'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'projected', and pay closer attention to spelling and word formation to ensure your writing is clear and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'is expanded' instead of 'has expanded'), missing articles, and punctuation errors, such as the misuse of full stops within sentences (e.g., 'philippines countries. compaired with'). The lack of control over complex structures means that the writing often feels disjointed. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and using articles correctly. Practising the use of complex sentences with accurate punctuation will also help in achieving a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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