Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-14

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 line chart details the historical data on proportion of population living in cities in four Asian countries for a period of fifty years, starting from 1970 to 2020. Additionally, it also predicts the figures for the two consecutive decades.

From an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that all the countries have experienced growth in urban population over the years. Moreover, highest Malaysian population stayed stayed in urban areas after 1990s. Indonesia showed a massive rise over the years surpassing Thailand and Philippines after 2000.

Malaysia started at exactly 30% in 1970, having only Philippines above it. Until 1990, it had almost similar growth rate as Philippines, together rising to nearly 50%, after which Malaysia experienced a tremendous growth ending at around 75% in 2020, and furthermore it is predicted to have 85% of its population in cities by 2040.

Indonesia is a country that showed a significant growth over the years rising from 12% in 1970 to around 50% in 2020, while it is predicted to have 65% of its population in urban areas by 2040. Thailand experienced a moderate growth an

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main trends and provides relevant data points for Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. However, the essay is incomplete; it cuts off mid-sentence while discussing Thailand, failing to provide a full summary of the data. While the overview is clear, the lack of completion for the final country significantly impacts the task achievement. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are addressed and the conclusion is fully articulated. The selection of key features is generally good, but the incomplete nature of the response prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay uses paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'From an overall perspective', and 'while' are used to link ideas. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the logical flow of the final paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding sentence or a completed analysis of the final country makes the overall structure feel unfinished. Improving the consistency of linking throughout the entire response would enhance the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, using terms like 'historical data', 'proportion', 'surpassing', and 'moderate growth'. There are some minor errors, such as the repetition of 'stayed' in the second paragraph. The range of vocabulary is adequate to convey the trends, but it lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'growth' and 'increase' to avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'highest Malaysian population stayed stayed' (repetition and awkward phrasing) and 'starting from 1970 to 2020' (should be 'from 1970 to 2020' or 'starting in 1970'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the completed sections. The sentence structure is generally functional, but more variety in complex sentence forms and greater attention to proofreading for minor slips would improve the accuracy score.

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

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