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 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 fluctuated throughout the period and it will reach 45% of population till 2040. In the Philippines,the 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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the overview states that the Philippines' population is 'fluctuating,' which is not supported by the data, as the trend is generally upward. Furthermore, the report lacks a clear comparison between the countries, such as noting that Malaysia is projected to have the highest urbanization rate by 2040. The data points are generally accurate, but the interpretation of trends could be more precise to reach a higher band. The response meets the minimum length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In 1970', 'After that', 'However'). Some transitions are slightly awkward, such as starting the second body paragraph with 'Thailand's population...'. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the linking between sentences could be more varied and sophisticated to improve the flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on basic verbs like 'growing', 'increasing', and 'reach'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to the 'population of Malaysia' when the graph actually measures the 'percentage of the population living in cities'. This is a significant conceptual error. To improve, the student should use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'urbanization rate' or 'proportion of city dwellers', and avoid repeating the same basic verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'it is significantly grow' (should be 'it grew significantly'), 'reach at 80%' (should be 'reach 80%'), and 'the numbers of citizens was' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency and accuracy of the writing. More attention to verb tenses and preposition usage is needed.

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

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