Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The graph shows the past data of the population that is living in cities in four countries. The graph predicts the future population from the previous population data of previous decades. It also shows the number of people that are migrating from rural areas to cities.
Malaysia :
The first country with the most rapid growth in population is Malaysia and it is expected that the total population would increase by almost 80% till 2040.
Indonesia:
Indonesia experiences a rapid bump in its city population till the year 2040 with an expected increase of almost 60 percent.
Philippines:
Philippines experiences a sudden increase in population of cities after 1980 and it was at its peak in 1990 but then there was a sudden fall in the population till 2010. Now, it is expected the population would incease till 2040 and is estimated to touch the percentage of 50 percent.
Thailad:
Thailand population was increasing by 30% by the year 1990 but then the rise in population became slower and showed a slight increase. Now, it is expected that it would also increase by 40%
by the year 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers all four countries and mentions the time frame. However, it fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends or significant comparisons, which is a requirement for Band 7+. The description of the data is somewhat inaccurate; for instance, stating Malaysia will increase by 'almost 80%' is a misinterpretation of the graph, which shows the percentage of the population living in cities, not the growth rate of the population itself. The report lacks a cohesive summary of the overall trends, such as the general upward trajectory across all nations. To improve, focus on identifying the highest and lowest points and comparing the rates of change between the countries rather than listing them individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses a list-like structure with headings for each country, which is not appropriate for an academic report. While the information is grouped by country, the lack of linking words or transition phrases between sentences makes the flow mechanical and disjointed. There is no clear introduction or concluding summary, which hinders the overall progression of the response. To reach a higher band, you should use cohesive devices such as 'in contrast,' 'meanwhile,' or 'similarly' to connect ideas and organize the report into coherent paragraphs rather than using bullet-point style headings.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increase' and 'population.' There are also inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'rapid bump' and 'touch the percentage of,' which are not standard academic collocations. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the phrasing is often simplistic. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'climb,' 'plateau,' 'fluctuate,' or 'projected to reach.' Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will also help to convey the data more accurately and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'Thailand population was increasing') and awkward phrasing. The sentence structures are mostly simple or repetitive, lacking the variety of complex structures required for higher bands. There are also punctuation errors, such as the inconsistent use of colons and line breaks. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of sentence types, such as complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While Malaysia shows a steady rise, the Philippines experienced a period of decline'). Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles and verb tense consistency is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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