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 given line chart presents the data about the percentage of the residents living in cities of four different countries in Asia between 1970 and 2020, including the future assumptions for years of 2030 and 2040.
Overall, the number of citizens residing in urban areas of each country increased from the 1970 and it's predicted that the population will be multiplied by the end of 2040.
In the cities of Indonesia and Malaysia, the population continuously grew each year from 1970 to onwards. Conversely, the urban population of Thailand and Philippines rose steadily from 1970 to 1990, but it remained almost stagnant between 1990 and 2020. Whilst Philippines' urban population declined between 1990 and 2010.
Malaysia observed the highest increase in urban population from around 1990 among all four countries.
It is supposed that the urban population of all four countries will raise more in 2030 and 2040 and Malaysia will have around 80% of the total population living in cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main trends and provides a clear overview. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains inaccuracies. For instance, stating the population will be 'multiplied' is vague and not supported by the data. The description of the trends for Thailand and the Philippines is slightly inaccurate, as the data shows fluctuations rather than a simple 'stagnant' period. While the key features are identified, the lack of precise data points (e.g., specific percentages for 1970 or 2040) limits the development of the response. To improve, ensure that specific figures are used to support the descriptions of trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'Whilst', and 'Overall' are used to link ideas. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Additionally, the reference to '1990' in the third paragraph is a bit confusing as it is not clearly linked to the previous sentence. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow could be improved by using more varied cohesive devices to connect the specific country trends more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common items like 'stagnant' and 'assumptions'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'future assumptions for years of 2030' and 'will raise more'. 'Raise' is used incorrectly here; 'rise' or 'increase' would be more appropriate. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Focusing on accurate collocations related to data trends will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'from the 1970' (should be 'from 1970') and 'from 1970 to onwards' (should be 'from 1970 onwards'). The phrase 'it is supposed that' is slightly unnatural in this context; 'it is projected' or 'it is predicted' would be better. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy in prepositions and verb forms is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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