Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20

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 Malaysian trend increased over the years, whereas the Indonesia trend decreased in start and increased over the years.In addition, Malaysia recorded the highest figure, while Thailand had the lowest.

Looking first at Malaysia, the figure stood at 30 % of total population in 1970. It increased over the years and their percentages also increased .It recorded as the highest population at 2040 ,at 80%. However, in 1970, the total population of Philippines was the same as Malaysia in 1970.

Turning to remaining categories, Malaysia recorded 80%, compared with 44% for Thailand . Whereas the Indonesia recorded as 11% in 1970 . It also increased over the years .It recorded as the slightly higher in 2040 , at 66%.

Overall, Malaysia considered higher than Thailand.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the overall upward trend for Malaysia and the starting points for the countries. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For example, the statement that Indonesia 'decreased in start' is not supported by the data, and the comparison between countries is inconsistent. The report fails to clearly distinguish between the historical data (1970–2020) and the predictions (2030–2040). While the main trends are identified, the lack of specific data points for intermediate years and the confusion in describing the trends limit the development of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'It also increased' and 'over the years'. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when comparing the countries. The logical progression is hindered by the lack of clear signposting between the historical data and the future projections, making the overall flow feel somewhat disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. The student relies on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'recorded' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'decreased in start' and 'considered higher than', which do not accurately reflect the data. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety in lexical items and the occasional misuse of terms prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('the Indonesia trend'), subject-verb agreement, and punctuation (e.g., spacing before periods). Some sentences are fragmented or awkwardly phrased, such as 'It recorded as the slightly higher in 2040'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable and detract from the overall quality of the writing.

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.