Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-10
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 percentage of the total population in four Asian countries therefore, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, living in cities from the year 1970 to 2020 with projection for 2030 and 2040 are illustrated in the graph.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that Malaysia had the highest population in 1970, showing a marked increase in the future prediction for 2040, whereas the least percentage of population can be seen in Indonesia in 1970 but showing a gradual increase in the year 2040.
According to the details, 30% of the total population in 1970 in Malaysia increased to 70% and will be rise to 90% in 2040. The population of Indonesia will also reach a peak of 60% in 2040 coming from 12% in 1970 with 50% gradual increase in 2020. As far as the Philippines and Thailand is concerned, the percentage population was 30 and 20 in 1970, 45% and 35% in 2020, which will rise a little to 50% and 45% in future showing no big change.
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 includes the required timeframes. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for example, stating Malaysia had the 'highest population' is misleading, as the graph tracks the percentage of the urban population, not total population numbers. Furthermore, the data reporting contains some inaccuracies, such as the claim that Indonesia had a '50% gradual increase in 2020', which does not align with the provided graph. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in interpreting the data and the confusion between population size and urbanization percentage limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally awkward, such as the phrase 'therefore, Philippines, Malaysia...' in the introduction, which is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. The transition between the overview and the specific data points is abrupt. While the paragraphing is present, the internal cohesion within the body paragraph is weak, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparisons between the four countries effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'increase' and 'percentage'. Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'will be rise' (grammatically incorrect) and 'showing no big change'. The student attempts to describe trends but lacks the range of collocations needed to describe data effectively (e.g., 'climb steadily', 'plateau', or 'projected to reach'). The errors in word choice do not prevent understanding, but they do restrict the range of expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'will be rise' instead of 'will rise', 'As far as the Philippines and Thailand is concerned' (subject-verb agreement error), and the awkward opening sentence structure. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct verb tenses is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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