Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-23
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 demonstrate the data about percentage of the population in different four Asian countries living in the cities from 1970 to 2020, with the predictions for 2030 to 2040.
The population of four Asian countries Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia in 1970, The highest percentage of individuals country was Philippines 31%, While the lowest citizens was in Indonesia.
However, The people of Philippines was raised to 47% at 1990 and then slightly fall to 40% in 2010. Additionally the Predication is expecting to reach 50% in 2040. In contras, The citizens of Malaysia was 30% in 1970 and then continuously Raised to 70% in 2020. Moreover in 2040 they may cross 80%. The individuals of Thailand was 18% at the beginning then get a sharp boost and peaked at 1990, and then keep at constant till 2020. and the Predication is to reach 40% in 2040. The 4th country was Indonesia whose population was the lowest 13% at the beginning and grow continuously. In 2020 they cross 50% and they expert says in 2040, this can be the 2nd largest in country in these four.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the trends for all four countries and the future predictions. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the most significant trends (e.g., the overall upward trajectory for all countries) is essential for a higher band. Some data points are slightly inaccurate, such as the claim that the Philippines' population 'slightly fell' to 40% in 2010, which is not clearly supported by the visual data. While the key features are identified, the lack of a clear, synthesized overview prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of effective cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are often mechanical or missing, such as the abrupt shift between countries. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, for example, 'The 4th country was Indonesia whose population was the lowest 13% at the beginning'. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks the necessary flow to guide the reader through the data comparisons effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is frequent repetition of basic verbs like 'was', 'reach', and 'raised'. Some word choices are awkward or incorrect, such as 'Predication' instead of 'prediction', 'In contras' instead of 'In contrast', and 'expert says' which is informal and imprecise for an academic report. The range is limited, and the student struggles to use more sophisticated vocabulary to describe trends, relying on simple descriptors like 'sharp boost'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('The line graph demonstrate', 'The people of Philippines was'), incorrect tense usage, and missing articles. Sentence structures are predominantly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary capitalization (e.g., 'Predication', 'Raised', 'In contras') and run-on sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar limits the score.
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.