Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-29
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 6.0)
The provided line graph illustrates the information regarding the percentage of the population in four different countries in Asia who were living in the cities from 1970 to 2020 along with prediction for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, the percentage of individuals living in the cities of Philippines and Thailand had seen a significant increase and it is estimated to rise more. Furthermore, the percentage of people living in cities of Malaysia and Indonesia had skyrocketed and is predicted to keep on rising as well.
The detailed analysis of the line graph showcases, the rise of people living in cities of Malaysia as its percentage had skyrocketed from 29% to 75% until 2020 and is estimated to increase up to 80% until 2040. The same goes for Indonesia as its percentage had increased dramatically form 7% to 48% till 2020 and expected to rise up to 58% until 2040.
Furthermore, the percentage of people living in the cities of Philippines had seen a significant increase from 31% to 42% until 2020 where one time it peaked at 48% in 1990 and is predicted to increase up to 52% until 2040. Similarly, the percentage of people living in cities of Thailand has seen a significant increase from 19% to 28% until 2020 and is estimated to increase up to 45% until 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all requirements of the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant data points for all four countries. The overview is clear, highlighting the general upward trend across the board. However, the analysis of the Philippines contains a slight inaccuracy regarding the 1990 peak, which is not clearly supported by the typical interpretation of a line graph trend. While the main features are reported, the comparison between countries could be more sophisticated; for instance, grouping the countries by their growth rates or final projected levels would have strengthened the response. Overall, the task is addressed well, with a clear focus on the provided data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the data into logical groups. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'The same goes for' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally smooth, moving from a general summary to specific country details. To reach a higher band, the student could vary the cohesive devices further to avoid repetitive sentence structures and ensure that the flow between sentences feels more natural and less formulaic.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'skyrocketed', 'dramatically', and 'significant increase' are used appropriately to describe trends. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the rise of people living in cities' (which is slightly awkward) and 'till 2020' (which is informal). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding the range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'prediction' would improve the overall quality of the lexical expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the information regarding the percentage... who were living' (unnecessary relative clause) and 'form 7% to 48%' (spelling error). Additionally, the use of 'until 2020' is repetitive and sometimes grammatically imprecise in this context. While the errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The student should focus on refining verb tenses and ensuring consistent use of prepositions when describing data points and timeframes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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