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 illustrates the population of four Asian countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between the years 1970 and 2020. and graph also shows the prediction of year 2030 and 2040.

The figure for the Philippines is by far the largest percentage of the population in 1970. Subsequently, the percentage of the population in the Philippines rose till 1990. At the end of 2040, the population of phillippens will be predicted roughly 55%.

As can be seen from the graph, the proportion of people in Indonesia and Thailand was between 10 to 19% in the year of 1970. While the figure for Indonesia rose steadily till 2040. The graph for Thailand fluctuated and eventually reached at 45% in 2040. Moreover, the figure for Malaysia was grew steadily till 2040.

In summary, the population in malasia was highest to compare any other countries. and the population

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the summary is incomplete, as the final sentence is cut off mid-thought. While the response attempts to identify some trends, it lacks a clear overview of the main features or significant differences between the countries. The data reporting is inconsistent; for instance, the claim that the Philippines had the largest percentage in 1970 is not supported by the visual data provided. The analysis is under-developed and fails to provide a comprehensive summary of the trends over the 70-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a logical structure. The introduction is repetitive, and the body paragraphs are poorly organized, making it difficult to follow the progression of information. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or incorrectly, such as the awkward transition 'and graph also shows' and the fragmented final sentence. Paragraphing is present but ineffective, as the ideas within the paragraphs are not clearly linked. The lack of a concluding summary and the abrupt ending further disrupt the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic phrasing such as 'rose till' and 'figure for'. There are several spelling errors, including 'phillippens' and 'malasia', which indicate a lack of attention to detail. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the trends accurately or with any degree of sophistication. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of verbs for describing trends (e.g., 'soared', 'plummeted', 'leveled off') and ensure accurate spelling of proper nouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as the fragment 'and graph also shows...' and the incorrect use of 'was grew' instead of 'grew'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary periods used mid-sentence. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. The student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for future predictions, and avoiding sentence fragments to improve clarity and accuracy.

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

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