Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is clear that the population of Malaysia living in cities is the highest proportion in the graph . However , number of people living in Thailand is at lowest point in graph .

Firstly , in Indonesia 13% individuals living in cities in 1970 and then population goes upward and reached 50% in 2020 after this graph predicts population will continue rise upward and reach at 60% in 2040 . Moreover , in Thailand 19% residents living in cities in 1970 and his population was gradually increased over the time period and stands at 45% in 2040 .

Furthermore, in Malaysia 30% citizens stayed in cities in 1970 and his population is sharply increases and stands at highest point on graph at 80% in 2040 . In contrast , 32% people stayed in cities of Philippines and there are some ups and down over the time but at last his population reaches at 52% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and includes the required timeframes. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are identified, the comparison between countries is limited. For example, stating that Malaysia is the 'highest' and Thailand is the 'lowest' is accurate, but the response fails to highlight the significant trends or the convergence/divergence of the data points effectively. The data reporting is generally accurate, but the lack of synthesis prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast', which help guide the reader. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally awkward, such as the use of 'his population' to refer to countries, which creates confusion and disrupts the flow of the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different countries.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. The student relies on repetitive phrasing like 'living in cities' and 'population'. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'his population' (referring to a country) and 'reached at 60%'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of varied, precise vocabulary for describing trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'plateaued', 'surpassed') limits the score. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points but does not demonstrate flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in graph'), incorrect verb tenses ('population goes upward'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('population is sharply increases'). The misuse of pronouns ('his population') is a recurring issue that affects the clarity of the writing. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to basic sentence construction and proofreading is needed.

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