Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-22
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 provided line graph depicts the percentage of the population living in four Asian countries (Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) between 1970 and 2020, and prediction for 10 year period.
Overall, it is clear that, all four countries experience a upward trend to staying in cities throughout the period. Malaysia and Indonesia were show the highest growth in city populations, while Thailand had the lowest individuals to live.
In 1970, the Philippines had the highest percentage of city population at around 33%, closely followed by Malaysia at 30%. While Malaysia grew steadily city population to reach approximately 75% in 2020, and reached its peak of 80% prediction by 2020. The Philippines experienced sharply increased to just under 50% by 1990 before dropping slightly and recovering to the highest point in 2040.
Meanwhile, Thailand and Indonesia started with the lower population level at about 19% and 24% respectively. Indonesia recorded a rapid increase, surpassing Thailand around the year 2000 and the Philippines by 2010, and reaching its peak of 60% predicted in 2040. In contrast, Thailand steadily increased to approximately 30% in 2020, after which it sharply rose to reach roughly 46% in 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task, identifying the main trends and making relevant comparisons. You successfully highlighted the overall upward trend and identified the countries with the highest and lowest growth. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you mention Malaysia reached 80% by 2020, whereas the graph shows this as a prediction for 2040. Additionally, the description of the Philippines' trend is slightly confusing regarding the 1990 data point. To improve, ensure that data points are mapped precisely to the correct years and categories provided in the graph to avoid misinterpretation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'while' to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Malaysia and Indonesia were show the highest growth... while Thailand had the lowest individuals to live.' The phrasing 'lowest individuals to live' is awkward and impacts the flow. Improving the variety and precision of your cohesive links would help the progression of ideas feel more natural and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'steadily increased', and 'surpassing'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'lowest individuals to live' and 'prediction for 10 year period'. The phrase 'were show' is a grammatical error that also affects lexical precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive or unnatural phrasing. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adverbs would also enhance the quality of your analysis.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'Malaysia and Indonesia were show the highest growth' (incorrect verb form) and 'The Philippines experienced sharply increased' (incorrect tense/structure). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive versus active voice will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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