Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The provided line graph illustrates the proportion of urban population across four different Asian countries ( Phillipines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) from 1970 to 2020 and their projected growth in 2030 and 2040.

Generally speaking, there was an overall increase in the city population in all the four countries with Malaysia experiencing the largest growth. Moreover, Phillipines and Malaysia had same percentage of population living in cities during the initial period.

In 1970, the proportion of population living in cities in Malaysia was 30%. This figure rose to 40% during the next decade and in 1990 it was almost 45%. By 2000, this proportion jumped to neadly 60% in 2000 and by 2020 it had reached almost 75%. Forecast reveals that it will further rise to more than 80% in 2040. On the other hand, Phillipines accounted for just over 30% of the urban population in 1970, which rose slightly to roghly 31% in 1980 but climbed significantly over the next 10 years and reached around 50% in 1990. Although, it declined steadily to almost 41% in 2010, it started to grow again and is projected to rise more than 50% by 2040.

Indonesia, accounted for nearly 12% of the urban population, during the starting decade. After 1980, it saw a steady increase and represented almost 25% of the population. After 2000, it climbed considerably and reached above 40% in 2010

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You covered all four countries and included the required timeframes. However, the response is incomplete as it cuts off abruptly while discussing Indonesia, failing to include the final projections for that country or Thailand. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points mentioned in the prompt are addressed. While you selected key features, the lack of a complete summary for all countries prevents a higher score. Ensure you provide a balanced report that covers the entire period for all subjects mentioned in the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Generally speaking', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used to separate the countries, which helps the reader follow the progression. However, the sudden end to the text disrupts the overall flow and coherence of the final section. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that the transition between data points remains consistent throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'projected growth', 'accounted for', and 'climbed significantly'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'Phillipines' (Philippines), 'neadly' (nearly), and 'roghly' (roughly). While these do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. You have attempted to use some less common vocabulary, but the range is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to avoid repetition and demonstrate greater lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Although, it declined steadily to almost 41% in 2010, it started to grow again'. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'Phillipines and Malaysia had same percentage' (missing the article 'the') and 'rise more than 50%' (missing the preposition 'to'). Punctuation is generally functional, though the use of commas after 'Although' is unnecessary. The majority of your sentences are clear and error-free, but you should focus on article usage and prepositional accuracy to refine your writing further.

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

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