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)
The line graph illustrates the proportion of people in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia residing in cities between 1970 and 2020, with the projections for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, the majority of Malaysians resided in urban areas, and this proportion is projected to increase. Despite some fluctuations, the proportions of people living in urban areas in the other three Asian countries are also expected to rise in the coming years.
The percentage of people who lived in the cities of Malaysia stood at over 30% in 1970 and this figure gradually increased from approximately 40% in 1980 to around 50% in 2000 before climbing dramatically to just above 70% in 2020 further it is predicted to increase over the next 20 years. In contrast, the proportion of people residing in Philippines cities began at just above 30% in 1970 and rose to approximately 50% in 1990, before peaking and then falling sharply over the next two decades. Despite this, the proportion is projected to increase steadily in the future.
Thailand's urban popluation stood at just above 10% in 1970 and this share increased to around 30% in 1990 and remained relatively stable over the period. Meanwhile, Indonesia's proportion increased steadily throughout the period ranking second among the four countries.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and addresses the timeline, including the future projections. However, the analysis is somewhat uneven. While the description of Malaysia is detailed, the summary of Indonesia is vague, merely stating it 'increased steadily' without providing specific data points from the graph. Furthermore, the description of the Philippines contains a factual inaccuracy regarding the 'sharp fall' over two decades, which is not clearly supported by the visual data provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that key features are supported by accurate data points for all categories mentioned, and avoid over-generalizing trends that are not clearly reflected in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Despite this' are used to link ideas. However, there are some issues with sentence-level cohesion; for instance, the sentence 'further it is predicted to increase' lacks proper punctuation or a conjunction to connect it to the previous clause. Additionally, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is functional but could be smoother. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of specific data for Indonesia makes the comparison less effective.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'proportion', 'residing', 'projections', and 'climbing dramatically' used correctly. There is an attempt to use a range of vocabulary, but it remains somewhat repetitive. There is a minor spelling error ('popluation') and some word choice issues, such as 'Philippines cities' instead of 'cities in the Philippines'. To improve, incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure consistent accuracy in spelling and word formation. The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several punctuation errors, particularly run-on sentences where clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation (e.g., '...in 2020 further it is predicted...'). There are also minor grammatical slips, such as the missing preposition in 'residing in Philippines cities'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring accurate punctuation would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.