Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The line graph illustrates the percentage of the population residing in urban areas across four Asian countries (the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) from 1970 to 2020, with projections extending to 2040.

Overall, it is evident that all four nations experienced an upward trend in urbanization over the period. By 2040, Malaysia is projected to have the highest proportion of city dwellers, while Thailand is expected to record the lowest figure.

In 1970, the urban populations of Malaysia and the Philippines were similar, standing at approximately 30%. However, Malaysia saw a significant rise throughout the period, accounting for 80% of its population in cities by 2040. In contrast, the Philippines experienced a slight decrease between 1990 and 2010, before recovering to reach 50% in 2040.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s urban population gradually increased from below 15% in 1970 to a projected 50% in 2040. This places Indonesia as the second-lowest among the four countries in terms of urbanization rate by the end of the projection period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You highlighted the upward trajectory of all countries and correctly identified the projected extremes for 2040. However, the report is slightly incomplete as it omits specific data points or trends for Thailand, which is one of the four countries mentioned in the prompt. To reach a higher band, ensure that all four countries are represented in the analysis, even if they are grouped together or compared briefly. The key features are well-selected, but a more comprehensive comparison across all four nations would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'However' to link sentences and ideas appropriately. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the overview from the specific details. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is easy to follow throughout the text. To improve further, ensure that the transition between the general overview and the specific data points is even more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'upward trend', 'residing in urban areas', and 'projected to have' are used accurately. You also use some less common items such as 'urbanization' and 'projections'. While the vocabulary is adequate and fits the context well, it lacks the sophisticated, idiomatic, or highly precise collocations that would characterize a band 8 or 9 performance. The word choice is consistently appropriate and there are no spelling errors, which supports clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'while Thailand is expected to record the lowest figure' and 'before recovering to reach 50% in 2040'. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not impede communication in any way. This shows good control over your grammatical resources.

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

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