Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-06
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 line graph illustrate the percentage of people living in four different countries Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
Overall, Philippines is expected to be the most populated country amongst others followed by Indonesia. Whereas, Malaysia and Thailand looking close to each other.
Malaysia and Philippines started at the same percentage which is around 30 in the year 1970. As the year passes they still remain close at 45 percent by 1995 with few ups and downs after that Malaysia show a significant grown and reached at almost 70% by the year 2020 and expected to reach almost 80 percent in future.
On the other hand, Thailand and Indonesia were between 15-19 percent in the year 1970 and they both show a steady growth till the year 2000 which is around 25%. However, right after that Indonesia population grow dramatically and reached around 45 percent in the 2020 and predicted to reach around 60 in future. Indonesia's population could reach 40 by 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 identifies the main trends. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, the Philippines is not the most populated country, but rather has the highest percentage of urban population. Furthermore, the data interpretation is inconsistent. You mention Indonesia reaching 45% by 2020 and then state it could reach 40% by 2040, which contradicts the visual trend of the graph. To improve, ensure that your overview accurately reflects the data and that your specific data points are precise. The summary of trends is generally clear, but more careful attention to the specific figures provided in the graph is required to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'Whereas', and 'On the other hand', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the comparison between Malaysia and Thailand is vague. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly rather than listing them.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant growth', 'steady growth', and 'dramatically'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'most populated country' instead of 'highest percentage of urban population' and 'Malaysia show a significant grown' (should be 'growth'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied reporting verbs and precise nouns to describe trends, and ensure correct word forms are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'The line graph illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'Malaysia and Thailand looking close' (missing auxiliary verb), and 'Indonesia population grow' (possessive error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, verb tenses when describing past and future data, and the correct use of possessives.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.