Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

The line graph displays information about the percentage of the population residing in cities across four different countries between 1970 and 2020 and projections for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it can be seen that the proportion of the population increased across the four countries. Malaysia has the highest urbanization rate from 2000 onwards. While Indonesia experienced the fastest growth. In contrast, the percentage of the Philippines rose for a short period but fluctuated further and is expected to rise in the future.

In 1970, the percentage of the population in Malaysia was 30%, which rose to around 75% in 2020. It is also expected to cross the mark of 80% in 2040. Looking at the percentage of the Philippines. It started with the highest proportion at above 30% in 1970 and rose to around 50% in 1990. It then decreased to almost 40% in 2010. It is predicted to recover to around 49% in 2030 and 53% in 2040.

On the other hand, the population's percentage of Thailand, which experienced a slow but steady increase, rose from almost 19% in 1970 to 29% in 1990 and remained stable till 2020. It is projected to stand just below 50% in 2040. However, Indonesia started with the lowest percentage, rose from almost 15% in 1970 to reach around 50% in 2020, and is forecast to reach a mark of 60% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task, identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the overall growth across all countries and identified key features such as Malaysia's dominance and Indonesia's rapid growth. However, the overview is slightly disjointed; for example, the sentence 'While Indonesia experienced the fastest growth' is a fragment that should be connected to the previous or following thought. Additionally, some data points could be more precisely described to fully support the comparisons. Overall, the response provides a clear summary of the data, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively to group information by country. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'On the other hand', and 'However' are used to signal shifts in focus. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion; for instance, the sentence 'Looking at the percentage of the Philippines' is a fragment that disrupts the flow. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be smoother in the second body paragraph to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urbanization rate', 'projections', 'fluctuated', and 'forecast'. There is some repetition of 'percentage of the population', which could be varied with synonyms like 'urban dwellers' or 'the proportion of city residents'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, there is limited use of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. The word choice is generally accurate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are error-free, there are some grammatical issues, particularly with sentence fragments (e.g., 'While Indonesia experienced the fastest growth' and 'Looking at the percentage of the Philippines'). Punctuation is generally handled well, but these fragments detract from the overall control. The use of tenses is appropriate for describing past data and future projections. To improve, ensure that all sentences are complete and avoid starting sentences with 'Looking at...' in a way that creates a dangling modifier or fragment.

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