Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given line chart illustrates the population of four different Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020,with predictions for 2030 and 2040. The data has been calibrated in percentage

Overall, it can be seen that Malaysia will be on the highest percentage of the cities population. On the other hand Thailand was at the lowest.

To begin , 1970 the percentage of population in cities of Indonesia was the lowest with less than 15 percent. However the population started to increase and reached equal to the Thailand cities population with more than 20 percent . On the other hand Thailand, with more percentage of population than Indonesia in 1970 with 20 percent was left only with less than 30 percent in 2010. Moreover the prediction for the year 2030 and 2040 for both the country was 55% & 60% and 30% & 40% respectively .

Looking towards the other details , the population of cities in both Philippines and Malaysia was the same in 1970 (30%) . However the population of Philippines cities started to rise in 1980 and reached to 50% in 1990. But this graph started to decrease and was left on 40% in 2010 . Furthermore the Malaysian cities population also started to rise and crossed the Philippines cities population graph between 1990 and 2000 reaching to 60% & 60%. The prediction for this both countries was 80% for Malaysia and 45% & 50% for Philippines in 2030 and 2040 respectively

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the starting points, the crossing of trends between Malaysia and the Philippines, and the future predictions. However, the analysis is occasionally hindered by inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, stating that the Philippines reached 50% in 1990 and then decreased to 40% in 2010 is a good observation, but the description of the Malaysian trend is slightly confusing due to the phrasing 'reaching to 60% & 60%'. To improve, ensure that data points are clearly linked to specific years and avoid ambiguous notation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'Looking towards the other details' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Looking towards the other details'. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing multiple countries in the same sentence, which makes the flow feel a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring clear subject-referencing would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'calibrated', 'predictions', and 'respectively'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'the highest percentage of the cities population' is slightly unnatural; 'the highest percentage of the urban population' would be more precise. There are also minor errors in phrasing, such as 'left only with less than 30 percent', which sounds informal. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive structures when describing trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the Philippines', 'the Malaysian cities'), incorrect preposition usage, and punctuation issues (e.g., spaces before commas). Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'the prediction for the year 2030 and 2040 for both the country was 55% & 60%'. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Reducing the reliance on symbols like '&' will also make your writing appear more professional and grammatically sound.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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