Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24

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 reveals the information about the prediction of people’s accommodation from 1970 to 2020 moreover 2030 and 2040 in four asian countries namely : Philippines, Malaysia,Thailand and Indonesia .

Overall, there had been an increase in trends of population living in cities like Malaysia and Indonesia whereas a rise and fall in the Philippines and Thailand.

Firstly , there was steady rise in percentage of Malaysia between 30%to 40% in the period between 1970 to 1990 .Then inclined rise in the remaining half from 1990 to 2040 . Additionally there was a continued rise in the percentage of Indonesia from 15% to 60% .

Philippines shows a balanced initially then rise and reach at peak at 50 % in 1990 and fell to the 40% in 2010 and then again show a increased in the percentage from 40%to 50% in the remaining period.On the other hand , there was a slight rise and fell in a consequentive three

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is incomplete as the text ends abruptly mid-sentence. While you identify trends for Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the description of Thailand is missing, and the conclusion is absent. To improve, ensure you provide a complete overview of all four countries and include a summary of the key trends. The data points mentioned are generally accurate, but the lack of a full report on all countries prevents a higher score. You must ensure the entire task is addressed before finishing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'Firstly', and 'On the other hand', but they are sometimes used mechanically. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the abrupt ending disrupts the logical flow of the report. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, completed thought before moving to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'shows', 'rise', and 'fell'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'inclined rise' and 'consequentive three'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'remained stable'. Additionally, ensure that you use terminology accurately to describe the movement of the lines on the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('in percentage of Malaysia'), incorrect preposition usage, and issues with subject-verb agreement ('show a increased'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and colons. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent enough to cause some distraction. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent sentence structure.

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.