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. 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. Moreover, 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 and provides a clear overview of the trends. You successfully identified the main features, such as Malaysia's dominance and Indonesia's rapid growth. However, the description of the Philippines is slightly inaccurate; you mentioned it 'fluctuated further' after 1990, but the data shows a decline followed by a projected recovery. Additionally, the statement 'Moreover, the percentage of the Philippines' is a sentence fragment that lacks a verb, which slightly impacts the clarity of your reporting. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with complete sentences and that the overview highlights the most significant contrasts more sharply.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the sentence fragment regarding the Philippines disrupts the flow. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from a general summary to specific country details, which makes the information easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urbanization rate', 'projections', 'fluctuated', and 'forecast'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is appropriate for an Academic Task 1. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the population's percentage of Thailand', which is slightly awkward phrasing. The vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the trends accurately, but more variety in reporting verbs (e.g., 'surged', 'plateaued', 'dipped') would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are accurate, there are some grammatical slips. For example, the sentence 'Moreover, the percentage of the Philippines' is incomplete. Additionally, 'the population's percentage of Thailand' is grammatically clunky. You have good control over tense usage, correctly switching between past data and future projections. To improve, focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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