Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-19
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)
The graph illustrates the information about the percentage of the population living in cities from 1970 to 2020 in four Asian countries with prediction for 2030 and 2040.The lowest percentage of population of Indonesia which live in cities and the highest population of Philippines in 1970 to 2020.
In 1970 12 percent population of Indonesia 18 percent of Thailand 30 percent of Malaysia and 31 percent of Philippines living in cities. In 1990 the population of Indonesia 19 percent 26 percent of Thailand 47 percent of Philippines and 44 percent of Malaysia. In 2000 percentage of Indonesia and Thailand population 26 percent and Malaysia and Philippines are almost 45 percent. In 2020 population of Indonesia almost 48 percent and Thailand population is 27 percent and Malaysia is 75 percent and Philippines is 42 percent.
The prediction of population for 2030 and 2040 eighty percent population of Malaysia live in cities and 60 percent of Indonesia 52 percent of Philippines and 48 percent population Thailand will live in cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the start, end, and predicted years. However, the analysis is largely a list of data points rather than a synthesis of trends. The overview is weak; it merely restates the prompt rather than highlighting the significant trends, such as the overall upward trajectory of urbanization in all four countries. Furthermore, the data provided for 2000 and 2020 contains inaccuracies compared to typical trends for these countries, and the lack of comparative language (e.g., 'surpassed', 'remained steady') limits the depth of the response. To improve, focus on grouping data into trends rather than listing figures chronologically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a report. However, the progression of ideas is mechanical. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas; the text relies heavily on simple 'In [year]' structures to start sentences. Referencing is also repetitive, and the lack of transition words makes the report feel like a series of isolated statements rather than a cohesive analysis. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words such as 'meanwhile', 'in contrast', or 'subsequently' to connect the data points and show the relationship between the countries.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic phrasing such as 'percentage of population', 'living in cities', and 'the population of [country]'. There is no attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'urbanization', 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'projected'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety in word choice prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, incorporate synonyms and topic-specific vocabulary related to demographic changes and statistical reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response consists almost entirely of simple sentence structures. There is a notable absence of complex sentences or varied grammatical forms. Several sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'The lowest percentage of population of Indonesia which live in cities and the highest population of Philippines in 1970 to 2020.' There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage (e.g., '12 percent population of Indonesia'). The lack of punctuation and correct sentence construction makes the text difficult to follow at times. To improve, practice using relative clauses and varied sentence starters to create more complex and accurate structures.
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.