Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-05
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 5.5)
The graph illustrates the information about the percentage of population living in the cities from 1970 to 2020 and the prediction for 2030 to 2040 in four Asian countries.
Overall, population consistently recorded the increase in the countries. On the x-axis, years are listed from 1970 to 2040 and on the y-axis percentage of total population is given. Legend box displays the names of countries which are Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Population of Malaysia surged up continuously over the years. The predicted pattern of Malaysia also represented rise to almost 85%. Whereas Thailand's population started from 18%, followed by some variations since 2020 and predicted population stuck at most 50%, making it lowest populated cities in the graph.
Meanwhile, citizenry in Philippines grew from 32% in 1970 and inclined at almost 50% in 1990. It is acclimated for fluctuation at the end of 2040 to almost 55% inhabitants. residents in Indonesia started from the lowest percentage of man living in cities about 15% and escalated steeply between 1970 and 2020. It remained increasing sharply in the prediction line of Indonesia, making it second most populated cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. You successfully identify the main trends, such as the surge in Malaysia and the steep increase in Indonesia. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. For instance, you list data points without always making clear comparisons between the countries. The description of the axes and the legend in the second paragraph is unnecessary; in IELTS Task 1, you should focus on the data itself rather than describing the graph's layout. To improve, ensure you group information logically to highlight similarities and differences rather than just listing country-by-country data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'Meanwhile, citizenry in Philippines' or 'It is acclimated for fluctuation'. The transition between ideas could be smoother. While there is a clear overall progression, the referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'prediction line'. Using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', 'Conversely') would help improve the flow and logical connection between the sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'surged', 'escalated', and 'fluctuation'. However, there are several instances of imprecise or incorrect word choice that hinder clarity. For example, 'citizenry' is not the best fit for 'percentage of the population', and 'acclimated for fluctuation' is an incorrect collocation. Additionally, 'lowest populated cities' is inaccurate as the graph refers to the percentage of the population living in cities, not the cities themselves. Focusing on more precise collocations related to data trends will help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'population consistently recorded the increase' (missing article), 'predicted population stuck at most 50%' (awkward phrasing), and 'percentage of man living in cities' (incorrect noun usage). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the control over articles and prepositions is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more error-free sentences and ensure that your complex structures are used accurately without awkward phrasing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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