Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates data about the proportions of the population in four Asian countries living in cities between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it can be seen that the population of all four cities was increased over the period and future projections for all four cities present increase in the population. The population of the Malaysia has significantly increased with the higher future projections throughout the period, while the population of the Indonesia was lower at the start of the period, but later it increased considerably with a higher rate in the future predictions.

Looking at the details, The population of the Malaysia was at 30%, which sharply climbed at 70% in 2020 with the predictions of 80% in 2040. In contrast, the population of the Philippines represented at 31%, and remained steady in 1980; after that, it rose roughly 50% and beat the population of the Malaysia in 1990. Later, it decreased again to 40% in 2010 with a slight increase around 45% in 2020, and with approximately 50% future projections in 2040. The population of the Thailand was at 19% in 1970, which steadily rose at 30% in 2020, with the predictions of roughly 50% in 2040, while the population of the Indonesia was at around 15%, which sharply increased approximately 50% in 2020, with the predictions of around 60% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all requirements of the task, including the trends for all four countries and the inclusion of future projections. The overview is clear and identifies the main trends, such as the general increase in urban population across all nations. However, there are some inaccuracies in the reporting of data; for instance, stating that the Philippines 'beat the population of Malaysia in 1990' is a misinterpretation of the graph's data points. Additionally, some descriptions of trends are slightly imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited with greater precision and that comparisons between countries are factually aligned with the provided visual information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by country. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'while', and 'after that' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas within the second body paragraph is slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally confusing, particularly when discussing the Philippines' trends. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices to ensure a smoother flow between sentences and to avoid repetitive sentence structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'projections', 'significantly increased', and 'sharply climbed' used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the population of all four cities was increased' (passive voice error) and 'the population of the Malaysia' (unnecessary definite article). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main features of the graph, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and refining the use of articles would enhance the lexical quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the population of all four cities was increased' (incorrect passive construction) and 'the population of the Indonesia' (incorrect article usage). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'represented at 31%'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles with country names, and ensuring that passive and active voice constructions are used accurately to describe data trends.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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