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 data about the proportion of the city population in Philippines,Malaysia,Thailand,and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020 with estimations until 2040..
Overall,there was an increase in urban population in all four asain countries from 1970 to 2020, and the same trend is likely to continue in future.
In 1970 , hightest urban population was in Malaysia and Philippines is 30%. Malaysian urban population consistently increased , but the proportion of people living in Philippines showed fluctuations.In 1990, both the city population reached around 45% . After 1990 , the population of Malaysia increased,but population of Philippines slightly decreased till 2010,the Philippines population also increased from 2020 to 2040 . The figure for thailand and indonesia were much lower in 1970at approximately 18% and 13% respectively. Indonesia urban population grew continuously from 13% in 1970 to 30% in 2000, then will rise sharply to over 60% by 2040. Thailand showed the highest growth,increasing from 18% in 1970 to roughly going to be 50 % in 2040.
to conclude with, All lines showed the significant increase over the period .
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 the time period, including the projections. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical focus on the most significant trends. For instance, the description of the Philippines' fluctuations is slightly confusing, and the comparison between countries could be more integrated. While the main features are identified, the report would benefit from a more cohesive overview that highlights the contrast between the countries that started high and those that experienced rapid growth. The summary is present but could be more effectively linked to the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'In 1970', 'After 1990'). There are also issues with punctuation, such as missing spaces after commas and periods, which disrupts the flow. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The concluding sentence is very brief and does not add significant value to the summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends such as 'increased', 'fluctuations', and 'rise sharply'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'hightest urban population was in Malaysia and Philippines is 30%'. There are also minor spelling errors (e.g., 'asain', 'thailand', 'indonesia'). To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms for growth and decline and ensure proper capitalisation of proper nouns.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The figure for thailand and indonesia were'), missing articles ('in Philippines'), and tense inconsistencies when discussing future projections ('then will rise sharply'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly regarding spacing after punctuation marks. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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