Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The graph illustrates the information about the proportions of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population of urban residents increased in all four countries. Malaysia with the highest growth rate throughout the period while residents of Indonesia made a massive incline through the timeline. Philippines experienced some fluctuations in between and Thailand remains the lowest in population and will predicted through to 2040.

Firstly, Malaysia starts with 30% urban population in 1970 that rose gradually to 40% in 2000 and saw a sharp incline up to 70% in 2020 and predicted to 83% by 2040. Meanwhile, Indonesia starts with the least proportion of 10% in 1970 that grew massively through the period, 50% in 2020 and predicted to 60% by 2040.

Secondly, Philippines experiences some fluctuations in between, starts with 30% percentage of population that rose higher to 50% in 1990, saw a sharp decline with 40% in 2020 and rose slightly to 50% by 2040. Moreover, Thailand with the lowest urban residents with 20% in 1970 that got higher, remained steady at 30% till 2020 and predicted up to 40% by 2040. give me a band

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all four countries and the time period, including the future predictions. You have identified the main trends, such as the overall increase in urban population and the specific growth in Malaysia and Indonesia. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; for instance, stating that Thailand 'remains the lowest' is a generalization that needs to be supported by the data, and the phrasing 'will predicted' is grammatically incorrect. To improve, ensure your overview highlights the most significant trends clearly without including specific data points, and double-check the accuracy of your comparisons against the graph to ensure you are not misrepresenting the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Meanwhile', and 'Moreover' to transition between ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, the transition 'Secondly, Philippines experiences some fluctuations' is a bit abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is smoother. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'fluctuations', and 'incline'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'massive incline' is not the most natural collocation for describing a graph; 'significant increase' or 'rapid growth' would be more appropriate. Additionally, there are minor errors such as 'will predicted' instead of 'is predicted'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for describing statistical trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. Examples include 'Malaysia with the highest growth rate' (missing a verb), 'starts with 30% urban population' (missing a subject), and 'will predicted' (incorrect passive voice). These errors occur throughout the text. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice when describing future predictions. Proofreading for basic sentence construction will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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