Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-25
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 graph illustrates the information about the percentages of the population in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from the years between 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, the growth rates of Malaysia and Indonesia gradually increases while the population of Phillipines and Thailand have some fluctutations.
The population of Malaysia in 1970 is almost 30% then it is increased to about 40% in 1980. Further it shows the upward trend and it is almost at the peak level with the predictions of about 80% in 2040 as compared to Phillipines the growth rate increases with about 31% in 1970 and in the year 1980 its almost same but in 1990 it actually increases about 46% then it shows the gradual decrease in the population in the years between 2000 to 2040.
The percentages of people living in Indonesia increases as compared to Phillipines and Thailand from 2010 to 2040 with almost 40% to 55%. The population of Thailand and Phillipines remain almost constant because it have no effect of insreasing in future.
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 covers the main features of the graph, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual inaccuracies. For example, you state that the population of the Philippines shows a 'gradual decrease' between 2000 and 2040, which is not supported by the data provided. Additionally, the summary of trends is somewhat confusing, particularly the claim that Thailand and the Philippines remain 'constant' with 'no effect of increasing'. While you identify the main countries and timeframes, the lack of precision in describing the data trends prevents a higher score. You should focus on accurately reporting the specific percentages and the actual direction of the trends shown in the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'then it is' or 'in the year'. The transition between describing different countries is abrupt, and the lack of clear signposting makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the four nations. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', 'Conversely') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as grouping countries with similar trends together.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'increases' and 'shows'. There are also some spelling errors, such as 'Phillipines' (repeatedly) and 'insreasing'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or academic language to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' will help improve your score significantly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'the growth rates of Malaysia and Indonesia gradually increases' contains a subject-verb agreement error. You also struggle with tense consistency, switching between present and past tenses when describing historical data. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clunky, such as 'as compared to Phillipines the growth rate increases with about 31%'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage is essential for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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