Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph demonstrates the percentage of the population of the citizens which are living in the cities of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 along with the prediction of 2030 to 2040 .

Overall, most of the citizen of Philippines and Malaysia are residing in the cities. Only a small number of population of Thailand and Indonesia is living in the cities. By the end of time, Malaysian residents showed a remarkable surge.

In 1970, only 15% of Indonesian citizens lived in cities but the number would be increased to close the 60% by 2040.

There are less than 20% population was livinf in the cities in 1970 but it would e close to 50% by the end of 2040.

Malaysia showed a huge growth in the percentage of resi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While you have identified some trends, the analysis is incomplete and stops abruptly mid-sentence. You have not provided a comprehensive overview of all four countries, and the data points mentioned lack precision. To improve, ensure you cover all categories (Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) and provide a clear, data-supported summary that reaches the required length. The current response is too brief to adequately report the main features or make meaningful comparisons between the countries over the specified period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a logical structure. While there is an attempt at an introduction and a body paragraph, the abrupt ending makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the transition between the overview and the specific data points is disjointed. To improve, use clear paragraphing—one for the overview and one or two for the detailed comparisons—and use linking words like 'in contrast,' 'meanwhile,' or 'subsequently' to guide the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited. Phrases like 'number of population' and 'by the end of time' are unnatural in an academic context. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'huge growth' and 'small number.' To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'upward trend,' 'gradual increase,' 'significant proportion,' or 'urbanization rate.' Additionally, ensure you use accurate terminology when referring to demographic data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'most of the citizen of Philippines' (should be 'citizens of the Philippines') and 'there are less than 20% population was livinf' (a mix of two different structures). You also have issues with verb tense consistency, particularly when discussing future predictions. Focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentence structures are complete. The unfinished sentence at the end also detracts from the overall grammatical control of the piece.

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

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