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 depicts the information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries between 1970 and 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, it is clear that the population of Malaysia is significantly growing throughout the period. In contrast the Philippines population is fluctuating till 2040. However, Indonesia's population is increasing slightly.
In 1970, the Population of Malaysia was only 30% and it is remained till 1980. After that, it is significantly grow and will reach at 80% at the end of 2040. Indonesia had 15 % population in 1970, this grow slowly and will reach to 45% of population till 2040.
Thailand's population in 1970 was about 19% , it fluctuate throughout the period and it will reach to 45% of population till 2040. In the Philippines, numbers of citizens was 32% in 1970. However, they will face the minor increase which accounts for 55% at the end of 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. However, the overview is inaccurate; stating that the Philippines' population is 'fluctuating' is incorrect based on the graph, which shows a steady upward trend. Additionally, the description of the data is somewhat superficial. For example, the claim that Malaysia's population 'remained' between 1970 and 1980 is a good observation, but the overall analysis lacks a clear comparison of the relative growth rates between the countries. The report identifies the main features but fails to highlight the most significant trends effectively, such as Malaysia overtaking the others to become the most urbanized nation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'After that', but they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. For instance, the transition 'However' is used to introduce information that does not necessarily contrast with the previous sentence. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of sophisticated linking between the data points makes the flow feel somewhat disjointed. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is frequent repetition of basic terms like 'population' and 'percentage'. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'numbers of citizens' to describe urbanization percentages, and 'minor increase' when referring to a significant jump from 32% to 55%. The range is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or collocations that would demonstrate a higher level of control. The errors in word choice do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, but they do limit the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'it is remained' (incorrect passive voice), 'it is significantly grow' (incorrect verb tense), and 'reach at 80%' (incorrect preposition). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'numbers of citizens was'. While the meaning remains clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and tense usage indicate a lack of control over complex structures. The punctuation is generally acceptable, but the grammatical inaccuracies are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency of the writing.
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