Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-17
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)
Writing Task-1
The given graph illustrates the proportion of population in Phillippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from 1970 to 2040.
Overall, their is a zero growing percentage of population in Malaysia. While, others remains low from Malaysia.
In 1970 the living population in Indonesia was at 15% slowly in start growing and reached at 30% in 2000. Moving forward it continously increased and touched its highest in 2040. Nextly, in Thailand the total living population during 1970 was seen at 20% as it went up in 1990 to 30% and remains constant- till 2020, but it raised upto 40% in 2040.
Further, in Malaysia the percentage of total population in 1970 was at 30, but it shows a slight rose in 1990 to 40%. As looking forward it rapidly grows upto 80% in 2040. Lastly, in Philippines it was seen that the population was at 30% in 1970 and gain the percentage in 1990 to 50% and does not changes till 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarize the data but fails to provide a clear or accurate overview. The 'Overall' paragraph contains significant factual errors, such as claiming there is 'zero growing percentage' in Malaysia, when the graph clearly shows a sharp upward trend. Furthermore, the description of the data is often inaccurate; for example, stating that the Philippines 'does not changes till 2040' contradicts the visual data which shows a plateau. The main features are not effectively highlighted, and the lack of precision in reporting the figures makes the summary unreliable. To improve, focus on identifying the most significant trends, such as the rapid growth in Malaysia compared to the more stable growth in other countries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by confusing sentence structures and inaccurate reporting. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Moving forward', 'Nextly', 'Further'), they are often used mechanically or inappropriately. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between ideas feels disjointed. The 'Overall' paragraph fails to provide a coherent summary of the main trends, which affects the flow of the entire response. Improving the use of linking words to show contrast and sequence would help the reader follow the information more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'gain the percentage' and 'slight rose'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'grows', 'increased', and 'remains', which limits the ability to describe the data with precision. There are also spelling errors, such as 'Phillippines' and 'continously'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider range of vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuate', 'plateau', 'surge', or 'gradual increase', and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'others remains'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'their is a zero growing percentage'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of hyphens and commas. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some attempts at complex ones that are often grammatically flawed. Focusing on basic sentence structure, correct tense usage for past and future data, and proofreading for common errors would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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