Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates the percentage of people living in cities in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the proportion of urban residents increased in all four countries over the period. Malaysia experienced the most significant and consistent growth and is expected to remain the country with the highest percentage of people living in cities. In contrast, the Philippines showed some fluctuations, while Indonesia is predicted to experience considerable growth in the future.

In 1970, around 30% of the population in both the Philippines and Malaysia lived in cities. This figure was slightly lower in Thailand, at about 18%, while Indonesia had the lowest proportion, at approximately 13%. By 1990, the Philippines had risen sharply to nearly 50%, becoming the country with the highest urban population at that point. Malaysia also increased to about 45%, whereas Thailand and Indonesia reached around 30% and 25% respectively.

From 1990 onwards, Malaysia saw a particularly rapid increase, reaching approximately 60% in 2000 and 70% in 2010. It then continued to rise to about 76% in 2020 and is forecast to reach roughly 83% by 2040. Indonesia also experienced strong growth after 2000, climbing from 30% to around 43% in 2010 and 52% in 2020. It is predicted to reach approximately 64% by 2040.

The Philippines, on the other hand, declined from about 49% in 1990 to 43% in 2010 before recovering gradually to around 56% in 2040. Thailand showed slower but steady growth, rising from 18% in 1970 to about 33% in 2020, and it is expected to reach around 50% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four countries. You have successfully highlighted the key features, such as Malaysia's consistent growth and the Philippines' fluctuations. The inclusion of data points from the start, middle, and end of the period, as well as the future predictions, demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements. The overview is well-constructed, providing a concise summary of the overall trends. All parts of the task are covered well, and the information is accurately reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the overview and body paragraphs. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the data, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By 1990', and 'From 1990 onwards' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is skillful and appropriate for an academic report. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the different countries is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'most significant and consistent growth', 'showed some fluctuations', and 'forecast to reach' are used appropriately. There is a good awareness of style, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific synonyms could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is accurate and fits the academic context well, with no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while Indonesia is predicted to...') and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over tense usage—shifting between past data and future predictions—is excellent. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the overall control of language is strong, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

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