Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-26

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 highlights the percentage population in four different cities from the 1970 to 2020, and reveals the prediction of future years for 2030 and 2040.

The graph clearly indicate that population in all the four cities are consistently outweighed in every next years. In 1970, Indonesia had lowest percentage among the given cities, which was nearly 10-15% and population living in Thailand were 19% approximately. Population in Philippines and Malaysia was almost similar during 1970. Malaysia experience increase of population after the year 1990 and Prediction of Indonesian population shows the exponential growth from the year 2000.

Philippines experience the slightly decline in the percentage from 1990 to 2010 and after that it will start to increase. Another country, Thailand showing the steady growth in population during the year 2000 to 2020 and after that, it will increase. In the year, 2040, Malaysia will become the city owing the highest population among the four given.

Overall, Graph reveal that by the time passed, density of the population increased.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You covered the data for all four countries and included the future projections. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. For instance, you mention specific percentages like '10-15%' and '19%', but the comparisons between countries could be more sophisticated. To improve, focus on grouping the countries by their growth patterns (e.g., those with steady growth versus those with more rapid, exponential increases) rather than listing them individually. Ensure you accurately interpret the graph; for example, the graph shows urban population percentages, not 'density' or 'total population'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief overview. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. You use some cohesive devices, but they are sometimes used incorrectly or repetitively (e.g., 'Another country, Thailand showing...'). The transition between the past data and future predictions could be smoother. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph has a clear central theme and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas, such as 'in contrast,' 'subsequently,' or 'by comparison,' to improve the logical progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors like 'increase' and 'growth' repeatedly. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to the countries as 'cities' and using 'outweighed' incorrectly in the context of population percentages. To improve, try to use more specific academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated,' 'peaked,' 'remained stable,' or 'projected to reach.' Avoid repeating the same verbs and nouns throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The graph clearly indicate', 'population... are consistently outweighed') and article usage errors ('the percentage population', 'the lowest percentage'). Additionally, there are tense inconsistencies, such as 'Philippines experience the slightly decline' instead of 'experienced a slight decline.' To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensure your verb tenses consistently reflect the timeline of the data (past for 1970-2020, future for 2030-2040).

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

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