Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-11

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 illustrates the proportion of population in four Asian countries living in cities namely Philippines,Malaysia,Thailand and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020.It also gives possible prediction for the population percentage in upcoming year 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the graph showed that higher number of people lived in Malaysia and Indonesia while lowest ratio of population living in cities is seen in Philippines and Thailand.

In 1970, 30% of Malaysian population lived in cities , folllowed by Indonesian people which is 15 % , less than Malaysian population.A significantly steady upward trend is shown by Malaysia in 2020 as it reached to 70% recording the highest percentage of population living in cities. By such a steady increase in the upcoming years, the population percentage living in Malaysia will rise up to 80% .Similarly, Indonesian population surged to 45% in 2020 and showed positive prediction of rising up to 60 percent in 2030 and 2040.

On the other hand,Thailand population living in cities were 19 % in 1970.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to address the task fully. While it introduces the topic and identifies some trends, it is incomplete. The description of the data is fragmented, and the report stops abruptly after mentioning Thailand's 1970 figure, completely omitting the data for the Philippines and the comparative analysis for the latter half of the period. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all four countries are covered throughout the entire timeframe (1970–2040) and that the main features are clearly highlighted and supported by data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response shows some attempt at organization, with an introduction and an overview. However, the progression of ideas is disrupted by the incomplete nature of the report. Paragraphing is insufficient; the text is essentially one block of information. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Similarly' and 'On the other hand', but they are not enough to compensate for the lack of logical flow and the sudden termination of the text. Better use of linking words and clear paragraph breaks would improve the structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use basic terms like 'higher number', 'lowest ratio', and 'upward trend'. While these are relevant, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'namely Philippines' (should be 'namely the Philippines') and 'upcoming year 2030' (should be 'the years 2030 and 2040'). Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include missing articles ('in Malaysia', 'in Philippines'), subject-verb agreement issues ('Thailand population... were 19%'), and punctuation errors (missing spaces after periods). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on consistent use of articles, correct subject-verb agreement, and ensuring proper spacing and punctuation throughout your writing.

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

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