Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line chart illustrates the proportion of total population living in the cities of four Asian countries between 1970 and 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the proportion of population living in the cities showed an increasing trend for both Malaysia and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020, whereas the figures for Phillipines and Thailand demonstrated a fluctuating trend during the same period. Also, it is predicted that the percentage of population dwelling in the cities will increase by 2030 and 2040 in all the four countries.

Phillipines accounted for the highest percentage of population living in the cities (just above 30%) in 1970 and demonstraetd a fluctuating behavior before rising to just above 45% by 2020. The figure for Thailand started below 19% and showed a similiar trend during the same period, with a percentage of almost 30% in 2020. The figure for Malaysia accounted for 30% in 1970, with an overall increasing trend and it became almost 1.5 times that of Phillipines' by 2020. Although the figure for Indonesia started at the lowest (around 12%), it showed a sharp increase and represented the second highest proportion (almost 50%) in 2020 among the four countries.

In terms of the predictions, the figures for all the countries will rise in 2030 and 2040. It is predicted that the figures will be approximately 80%, 60%, 54%, and 45% in 2040 for Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillipines, and Thailand respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all requirements of the task, including the 1970–2020 period and the 2030–2040 projections. You successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that Indonesia started at the lowest point but rose to the second-highest by 2020. The overview is clear and highlights the key features effectively. However, there is a minor factual inaccuracy in your analysis: you stated that Malaysia's figure became 'almost 1.5 times that of Philippines' by 2020', which is not supported by the data provided. Ensuring that all comparative statements are mathematically accurate is essential for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary of the predictions. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific country data and finally to future projections. You use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'Although', and 'whereas' effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The flow is natural, and the referencing is generally clear, making the information easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'demonstrated a fluctuating trend', 'proportion of total population', and 'sharp increase' are used appropriately. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'Phillipines' (should be Philippines) and 'similiar' (similar), and a slight misuse of 'dwelling' in the context of urban population statistics. While the range is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'percentage' would help elevate the lexical score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear, and the grammatical control is generally good. There are occasional errors, such as 'all the four countries' (should be 'all four countries') and 'demonstraetd' (spelling). Additionally, the phrase 'it became almost 1.5 times that of Phillipines'' is slightly awkward in its construction. Despite these minor slips, the errors do not impede communication, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. To reach a higher band, ensure consistent accuracy in articles and possessive punctuation.

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