Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-13
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)
Overall the four countries are expected to experience an upward trend in urbanization over the entire 70 year period . Malaysia and indonesia show the dramatic growth rates ,while the philippines exbitis the most flucating pattern
In 1970,the Philipines had the highest urban popa%, followed closely by malaysia at around 30%. However Malaysia urbanization grew rapidly , overthinking thr Philipines by 1990 and climbing steadilyto reach over 70% in 2020. its projected to peak at over 80% by 2040 ,remaining the most urbanization among the four . meanwhile the percentage in the philipines flucated,drop after slightly 1990 before climbing again ,and is predicated to reach approximately 55% of by 2040.
In contrast Thailand and Indonesia started with the lowest urban populations in 1970, at around 15% and 13% of respectively. while Thailand urbanization grew slowly aiming to reach roughly 50% by 2040.Indonesia experienced massive surge after 1980
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main trends and provided some data points, the analysis is incomplete. The description of Indonesia's trend is cut off mid-sentence, and the conclusion is missing. To improve, ensure you cover all four countries fully and provide a clear overview of the data. The lack of completion means the task is only partially addressed, as the final projections for Indonesia and the overall summary are not fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast' and 'meanwhile', but they are sometimes used mechanically. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the lack of a concluding summary makes the overall flow feel abrupt. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'upward trend', 'dramatic growth', and 'massive surge'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'Philipines', 'popa%', 'exbitis', 'flucating', and 'predicated' (instead of projected). These errors, combined with word choice issues like 'overthinking' (instead of overtaking) and 'most urbanization' (instead of most urbanized), limit your score. To improve, focus on accurate spelling and using adjectives and adverbs more precisely to describe the degree of change in the data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Indonesia show the dramatic growth rates' (subject-verb agreement), 'drop after slightly 1990' (word order), and '13% of respectively' (redundant preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structure remains consistent. Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles and incorrect word order will significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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