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 stable till 1980. After that, it will significantly grow and will reach 80% at the end of 2040. Indonesia had 15 % population in 1970, this will 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 significant 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 provides a clear overview and covers all four countries mentioned in the graph. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of trends is inconsistent in tense, using future tense ('will grow') to describe historical data from 1970 to 2020. Additionally, the claim that the Philippines' population is 'fluctuating' is not well-supported by the data, which shows a general upward trend. To reach a higher band, you should focus on accurately describing the data points and ensuring the tense usage reflects the timeline of the graph correctly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into 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 limited. Transitions such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'After that' are used, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the paragraphing could be improved by grouping countries with similar trends together rather than listing them individually, which would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You rely on basic verbs like 'growing', 'increasing', and 'reach'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There are also some minor collocation issues, such as 'the numbers of citizens was', which is slightly unnatural in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to trends, such as 'climb', 'surge', or 'gradual rise'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent errors in tense usage, such as using the future tense ('will reach', 'will grow') to describe data from 1970 to 2020. There are also minor punctuation errors, such as the spacing around the percentage sign ('15 %') and missing spaces after commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text and prevent the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.