Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-18
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 given line graph illustrates ratio of citizens in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 with forecast for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, in future Malaysia population will grow high as compare to other regions. The Indonesia and Thailand population increased gradually in first 40 years while, in remaining years the it increase steadily show significant raise in percentage. The Philippines strength show fluctuation through out the period.
To begin, in 1970 the Thailand and Indonesia residents were under 20 percent and in next 30 both economies population increase gradually and reached to approximately 30 percent in 2000 after Indonesia citizens rose steadily through out the period in 2040 its will climb to 60 percent while Thailand remained constant till 2020 and in future the ratio of residents will be just above then 40 percent. The 30 ratio of people recorded at Malaysia in 1970 in next 20 years the proportion of individuals rose moderately and in next remaining years the population show significant increase in future it will be 80 percent. The Philippines population showed fluctuation growth from 1970 to 2010 in next time period its residents increased slightly in future it will be 50 percent citizens.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and the time period, identifying key trends. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention that Malaysia will grow the most, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate or confusing, such as stating Thailand remained constant until 2020 when the graph shows fluctuations. The overview is present but lacks a clear, analytical synthesis of the main trends. To improve, ensure that your data points are precise and that you group information logically rather than listing country by country, which can lead to a repetitive structure.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical (e.g., 'To begin', 'in next 30'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing multiple countries in one sentence, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of data. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'increase', 'grow', and 'high'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'Philippines strength' instead of 'urban population in the Philippines' and 'its will climb' (grammar error affecting lexical clarity). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to trends, such as 'surpass', 'plateau', 'dramatic surge', or 'gradual incline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('the' before Malaysia), incorrect verb tenses ('its will climb'), and subject-verb agreement issues ('the population show'). While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these errors, which can occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically the correct use of articles and verb forms, before attempting more complex structures. Proofreading for these small but frequent errors would improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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