Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-28
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 provides data about the proportion of the population in four Asian countries ( Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia ) living in cities between 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, it is evident that all countries illustrate an upward trend over the period. Furthermore, Malaysia will be experienced the higher proportion of the population whereas, Thailand will be recorded lowest figure in 2040.
In 1970, the proportion of population who was living in Malaysia and Philippines stood almost similarly at 30%. However, the percentage of people in Malaysia was significantly rose throughout the period accounted for 80% in 2040. Moreover, there was a slightly decreased of Philippines population from 1990 to 2010 and 50% of population will be living in cities in 2040.
One the other hand, the proportion of population who was living in Indonesia was gradually increased throughout the period and will be get second position from the last. Moreover, the percentage will be increased approximatically 20% to 50% from 1970 to 2040 for Indonesia population who was living in cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and the time period, identifying key trends and making comparisons. However, the analysis is somewhat uneven. While the overview is clear, some data points are imprecise, such as the claim that Malaysia and the Philippines started at 'almost similarly' at 30% in 1970, which is not fully supported by the visual data. Additionally, the description of the Philippines' trend is slightly confusing, and the prediction for Indonesia is described in a way that lacks clarity regarding the specific data points. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are accurate and that the key features are highlighted with more precision.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'On the other hand' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'will be get second position from the last'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the countries, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel disjointed due to grammatical errors that affect the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends (e.g., 'upward trend', 'proportion', 'significantly rose'). However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'will be experienced the higher proportion' instead of 'will experience the highest proportion' and 'approximatically' (spelling error). The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but the lack of precision and occasional errors in word formation prevent a higher score. Expanding the range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would improve the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice constructions. Examples include 'will be experienced', 'was significantly rose', 'there was a slightly decreased', and 'who was living'. These errors are noticeable and occasionally impede the reader's understanding. While the meaning is generally clear, the control over complex structures is inconsistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of future tenses for predictions would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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