Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the variations in the proportion of population in four Asian countries, namely the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, from 1970 to the projection of 2040. Overall, urbanisation in all countries experienced an upward trend, and the rates continue to increase in the future. In 1970, the highest percentage of urban population lived in the Philippines, at around 32%. The rates rose steadily and expected to reach under 60% by 2040. Urban population in Malaysia stood at 30% in 1970. The percentage of population living in cities is forecasted to reach over 80% by 2040, becoming the country with the largest urban population. The percentage of total population in Thailand and Indonesia stood at around 19% and 14%, respectively. The percentage in the former went up gradually, and is expected to reach under 50%, becoming the country with the lowest residents living in cities, and the latter rose substantially, and forecasted to reach approximately 65% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the graph, including the starting points in 1970 and the projected figures for 2040. You successfully identified the upward trend for all countries and highlighted the shift in ranking, specifically noting Malaysia's rise to the top. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, listing data points for each country sequentially rather than synthesizing the information into a more analytical overview. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more integrated; for example, grouping countries by their growth patterns or final rankings would provide a more cohesive summary of the data trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a body that follows the data chronologically and by country. However, the essay is presented as a single block of text. Dividing the response into at least two paragraphs—one for the overview and one for the detailed data analysis—would significantly improve the structure. While you use some cohesive devices like 'namely' and 'respectively', the flow between sentences is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on 'The percentage...' to start sentences. Using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases would improve the overall flow and progression of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'urbanisation', 'upward trend', 'forecasted', and 'proportion'. The use of 'respectively' is accurate and adds precision. However, there is some repetition of basic phrasing, such as 'The percentage of population' and 'stood at'. To improve, try to vary your vocabulary by using synonyms or different sentence structures to describe data. For instance, instead of repeating 'percentage', you could use 'proportion', 'share', or 'figure'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the relative clause 'becoming the country with the largest urban population'. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'rates rose steadily and expected to reach', which should be 'rates were expected to reach' or 'rates are expected to reach'. Additionally, 'forecasted to reach' should be 'are forecasted to reach'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses when discussing future projections and increasing the variety of complex sentence structures used throughout the response.

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