Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-15

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)

This graph illustrate the percentage of four Asian country cities with the index of their population rising from the year 1970 to 2020.

In 1970, Malaysia had the percentage of 30% which hicked upto 75% in the year 2020. A country with the most uprising will be Indonesia as they had an upward of population percentage from 10% to 50% in the year 2020.

Philippines can considerd as an country with a country with an minimal hick. In the year 1970, Philippines was at 30% which only rose up to 45% in the year 2020. while, thailand had an upward 20% to 40% in the year 2020.

Now, the information regarding the perdicitons from the year 2030 to 2040 has also been given. In the year 2040, Malaysia will reach at the esttimate of 80% in the matter of population. followed by indonesia, which will be at 60%.

In 2030, thailand will be at the population percentage of 35% which then in 2040 is going to be 45%. Same goes for philippines, it year 2030 it will have the population of 50% which will hike upto 60% in the year 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and the time periods provided. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the main trends (e.g., the general upward trajectory of urbanization across all countries) is essential for a higher band. While the data points are generally accurate, the description of the trends is somewhat mechanical, listing figures rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, ensure you highlight the most significant changes, such as Malaysia's consistent lead or the relative growth rates, rather than just reporting individual data points for each year.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive or awkward, such as 'Same goes for philippines' or 'Now, the information regarding...'. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly when transitioning between the historical data and the predictions. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would significantly enhance the flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of non-standard word choices, such as 'hicked' (instead of 'hiked' or 'increased') and 'uprising' (which usually refers to a rebellion rather than a statistical increase). The repetition of 'percentage' and 'population' suggests a limited range. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied terminology for describing trends, such as 'surged', 'gradual growth', 'projected to reach', or 'remained steady'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('This graph illustrate'), article misuse ('an country'), and awkward phrasing ('in the matter of population'). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent and distract the reader. The sentence structures are mostly simple or compound; there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Focusing on basic accuracy—specifically verb forms, articles, and punctuation—will help improve the clarity and professional tone of your writing.

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

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