Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The graph illustrates the percentage of population in cities of four different Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for the next 20 years.

Overall, the percentage of population amongst all four countries has increased with Malaysia having the largest population and predicted to remain the largest for the next 20 years.

In 1970, Indonesia and Thailand had the least population living in cities amongst all the countries, with Thailand at 18% followed by Indonesia at 13%, over the next 50 years both countries population living in urban areas grew with Thailand at 30% and projected to grow even more to 45%. Meanwhile Indonesia's urban population in 2020 was around 50% and projected to reach 60%.

Malaysia and Philippines had a urban population difference of 1%, where Malaysia had a population of 30% Philippines had a population of 31%. By 2020, Malaysia had the largest urban population of 77% and predicted to reach 85% , while Philippines only had a urban population of 42% and predicted to increase by 8% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task and identifies the main trends. You successfully highlight the overall growth and the specific positions of the four countries. However, the analysis is slightly uneven; for instance, the description of the Philippines is a bit confusing, as you state it had a 31% population in 1970 but then mention it only increases by 8% by 2040, which does not align clearly with the visual data provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately interpreted and that comparisons between countries are more explicit throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile' and 'by 2020' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the 1970 data and the 2020 projections for Indonesia and Thailand could be smoother. Additionally, the paragraphing is functional, but the internal structure of the second body paragraph is slightly cluttered, making it harder to follow the comparison between Malaysia and the Philippines.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'projected', 'urban population', and 'illustrates'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some inaccuracies in word choice. For example, you use 'population' repeatedly when referring to the 'percentage of the population'. Using more precise synonyms or varying your phrasing would improve the sophistication of your writing. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('a urban population' should be 'an urban population') and punctuation issues, particularly with comma splices. For instance, 'Malaysia had a population of 30% Philippines had a population of 31%' requires a conjunction or a semicolon. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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