Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-21

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 5.0)

THE LINE GRAPH TARCKS THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN FOUR ASIAN COUNTRIES WITHIN THE VARYING PERIOD OF TIME.

IN MALAYSIA 30% OF POPULATION RAPIDLY RISES TO 47% TILL 1990 AND THEN RISES TO 75% TILL 2020 AND PREDICTIONS ARE THAT IT WILL RISES TO 85% TILL 2040. IN PHILIPINES POPULATION RISES TO 50%IN 1990 AND THEN THERE IS A RAPIDLY FALL IN POPULATION AND POPULATION FALLS TO 45% IN 2010 AND PREDECTIONS ARE THAT POPULATION RISES TO 50% IN 2030.

IN THAILAND THERE ARE VARIATIONS IN THE NATIONALIST WHICH RISES TO 29% IN 1990 AND THEN REMAINS VARYING TILL 2020 AND THE PREDECTIONS ARE THAT THAILAND POPULATION RISES TO 45% TILL 2040.

IN INDONESIA POPULATION IS RAPIDLY RISING AND REACHES TO 40% IN 2010 AND THEN RAPIDLY RISES TO 50% IN 2020 AND PREDECTIONS ARE THAT POPULATION WILL CONTINUE TO RISE AND REACHES TO 60% TILL 2040

NONE OF THE COUNTRIES IN GIVEN QUESTION IS OVER POPULATED BUT RAPIDLY RISE IN POPULATION IS VERY ALLARMING FACTOR FOR THESE COUNTRIES

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers all four countries and provides data points for the specified years. However, the analysis is largely a list of figures rather than a synthesis of trends. The overview is missing, as the final paragraph introduces an irrelevant personal opinion about 'overpopulation' and 'alarming factors' which is not supported by the graph. To improve, you must include a clear overview of the main trends (e.g., the general upward trajectory of urbanization) and avoid adding external commentary or subjective judgments that are not present in the data.

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 very limited and mechanical. There is a lack of linking words to connect ideas within sentences or between paragraphs. The progression of information is somewhat repetitive, as each paragraph follows the exact same structure ('In [country], [data]...'). To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider range of cohesive devices (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Meanwhile') to create a more natural flow and better connect the data points.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on the word 'rises' or 'rising' to describe all upward trends. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'nationalist' instead of 'national population' or 'predections' (spelling error). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate precision. To improve, you should learn synonyms for movement (e.g., 'soared,' 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' 'gradual increase') and ensure you are using the correct terminology for the data provided.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('it will rises,' 'population rises to 50%in 1990') and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with little evidence of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and proofreading for spelling and punctuation errors. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, would also help raise your score.

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

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