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 number 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 covers all four countries and the time frame provided. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have identified the main trends, but the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate; for instance, you describe the Philippines as 'fluctuating' when the graph shows a general upward trend, and you incorrectly state that Malaysia's population was stable until 1980 when the graph shows a clear rise. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the visual data and provide more comparative analysis between the countries rather than just listing individual trends. The overview is present but could be more detailed regarding the overall growth patterns.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use basic cohesive devices like 'In contrast', 'However', and 'In 1970'. While these are functional, the flow between sentences can feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. To reach a higher band, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that the relationship between the data points is more explicitly linked to the overall trends you have identified.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main points. You use some relevant terms like 'significantly growing', 'stable', and 'fluctuated'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are minor issues with word choice, such as 'the number of citizens was 32%', where 'percentage of the population' would be more precise given the graph's axis. To improve, incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'climb', 'surge', 'upward trend') and ensure you are using precise terminology when referring to statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with tense usage, such as 'it will significantly grow' when describing past data, and 'this will grow slowly' when referring to the 1970-2020 period. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and spacing errors, such as '15 %' and '19% ,'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. Focus on maintaining consistent tense usage when describing historical data versus future predictions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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