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 compares the proportion of the population in four different Asian countries living in urban areas between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, it is clear that all countries experienced an upward trend throughout the period, whereas Malaysia had the highest values. In addition, it is predicted that the population in all countries will increase in the future.
The percentage of Malaysia population was 30% of the total population in1970, which rose to 75% in 2020. By contrast, the figure recorded in Philippines was same as Malaysia in the initial period, after that increased to 50% in 1990. This value fall to almost 40% in 2010, before rising to 45% in 2020. However, in Thailand, the population was 19% in 1970, which grew to around 30% in 2020.The percentage of Indonesia population was 15% in 1970, which rose to 25% in 2020.
The projection for 2030 and 2040 for all countries was the population will increase and the final predicted value for the Malaysia was 60% and
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to complete the task as it is unfinished, cutting off mid-sentence at the end. While you successfully identify the main trends and provide some data points, the lack of a complete summary for the final projections significantly impacts the score. You have selected key features, such as the upward trend and the comparison between countries, but the analysis is incomplete. To improve, ensure you allocate enough time to fully describe the data for all years mentioned in the prompt, including the future projections, and provide a coherent conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical attempt to group the information. However, the progression is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'By contrast', but the flow is somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'the figure recorded in Philippines was same as Malaysia in the initial period', which lacks a clear subject-verb structure. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are complete will help improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms like 'increase', 'rose', and 'values'. There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'the figure recorded in Philippines was same as Malaysia' (should be 'the same as that of Malaysia') and 'This value fall' (should be 'fell'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', and pay closer attention to articles and prepositions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The percentage of Malaysia population' (missing possessive 's'), 'in1970' (spacing error), and 'the projection... was the population will increase' (awkward phrasing). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical slips will be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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