Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-08

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 provides information about the proportion of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with also gives predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, percentage of the population living in cities in all four countries increased during this period and in future it also continue his rising.

In Philippines, the percentage of the population living in cities that was 30% in 1970 and in 1990 it grow and reached on almost 50% and in 2020 it again fell and reached on approximately 45% and predict for 2040 it will be reach on almost 50%. In Malaysia, the proportion of the population living in cities that was 30% in 1970 and then in 1990 it reached on above 40% and in 2020 it reached on it reached on above 70% and prediction for 2040 it will be reach on 80%. In Thailand, the percentage in 1970 that was below the 20% then in 2020 it rising and reached on almost 30% and prediction for 2040 that it will be reach on above the 40%. In Indonesia, the proportion in 1970 that was almost 12% and in 2000 it reached on 40% and in 2020 it reached on approximately 50% and prediction for 2040 it will be reach on almost 60%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and the time period, including the projections. However, the reporting of data is often inaccurate. For example, you state that the Philippines' urban population 'fell' in 2020, which is not supported by the typical trend of such graphs, and your description of the data points is often imprecise (e.g., 'reached on almost 50%'). While you identify the main trends, the lack of precision in data interpretation and the failure to make meaningful comparisons between the countries limits the score. To improve, focus on grouping countries with similar trends rather than listing each one individually.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the body paragraph is a single, dense block of text that makes it difficult to follow the progression of information. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on 'and' and 'in [year] it reached on'. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and the referencing is sometimes unclear. To improve, use more sophisticated transition signals such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', or 'By comparison' to connect ideas and create a smoother flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'reached on' incorrectly; the correct collocation is 'reached' followed by the value, or 'peaked at'. There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs and nouns. You rely on basic terms like 'increased' and 'rising'. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'projected to climb', or 'a significant proportion', and ensure that collocations are used accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions. For instance, 'it also continue his rising' should be 'it will also continue to rise', and 'predict for 2040 it will be reach on' is grammatically incorrect. The sentence structures are largely simple or repetitive, and there are issues with subject-verb agreement and word order. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic tense consistency and preposition usage.

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