Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The provided line graph illustrates the insights of the proportion of the residents living in urban areas of four Asian nations namely - Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia - between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia experiences the highest number of citizens living in cities throughout the given years, whereas Thailand sees lowest percentage comparably even after having gradual growth. While Philippines endures the most fluctuations, proportion of Indonesian residents residing in urban lands, faces a substantial growth till the end of the timeline.

Malaysia and Philippines started off at somewhat the same level of around 30% in 1970. However, Malaysia escalated dramatically, soaring to its peak at around 80% in 2020 and is forecast to reach over 80% by 2040 whereas Philippines experienced the most erratic changes with expectation to reach around 60% in 2040.

On the other hand, Indonesia depicts the most consistent growth over the years and is predicted to account for over 60% people living in urban areas by 2040 despite starting at the lowest level (13%) in 1970. Conversely, Thailand commenced at about 20%, ahead of Indonesia, in 1970 but experienced the most sluggish growth in the chart. It plateaued at 30% in 2000 and hovered around that level for a few years. Nevertheless, it is expected to increase after 2020, reaching to approximately 50% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully selected key features, such as the dramatic rise in Malaysia and the consistent growth in Indonesia. The comparison between countries is well-integrated throughout the report. You have accurately identified the starting points and the projected end points for 2040. The information is well-supported by data from the graph, and the response maintains a professional tone throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between 'number of citizens' and 'percentage of the population' is maintained, as you occasionally conflate these terms.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by country trends. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'while', 'on the other hand', and 'conversely' are used appropriately to link ideas and contrast data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different trends. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the four nations. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the structure supports the overall argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'escalated', 'soaring', 'erratic', 'plateaued', and 'sluggish'. This allows for a precise description of the trends shown in the graph. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'endures the most fluctuations' (which sounds slightly unnatural in this context) and 'urban lands' (where 'urban areas' would be more standard). However, these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is sufficiently varied to convey the information clearly and with a degree of sophistication appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'While Philippines endures the most fluctuations, proportion of Indonesian residents... faces a substantial growth'. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are very occasional minor slips, such as the missing article in 'proportion of Indonesian residents' or the slightly awkward phrasing 'reaching to approximately 50%'. These are non-systematic and do not affect the clarity of the report. The majority of your sentences are accurate, showing a good command of complex 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.