Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-30
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 7.5)
The line graph illustrates the proportion of urban dwellers in four Asian countries-the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia-between 1970 and 2020, alongside projections through 2040.
Overall, all four nations experienced sustained urbanisation over the period, through Malaysia consistently maintained the highest urban population while Indonesia showed the showed the most dramatic Long-term transformation.
Malaysia began with roughly 30% of its population in cities in 1970 and rose steadily throughout, surpassing 70% by 2010 and projected to reach around 82% by 2040, remaining the clear leader throughout. The Philippines and Thailand followed broadly similar, more moderate trajectories, climbing from around 18-32% in 1970 to approximately 50-55% by 2040, with the Philippines slightly ahead for most of the period.
Indonesia, meanwhile, started as the east urbanised, at just 13%, but underwent the steepest rise from 2000 onwards, overtaking both the Philippines and Thailand by 2020, and is forecast to reach roughly 60% by 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully identified the main features, such as Malaysia's consistent lead and Indonesia's significant growth. The comparisons between countries are relevant and well-integrated. You have covered the entire timeframe, including the projections for 2030 and 2040. The data is accurately reported, and the selection of information is appropriate for a summary. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly distinguished, perhaps by grouping the countries with similar trends more explicitly in the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the countries effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'alongside', and 'throughout' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general trend to specific country comparisons. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different analytical points. The flow is natural, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the criteria for a high band in this category.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'urban dwellers', 'sustained urbanisation', 'projections', and 'trajectories'. The use of 'steepest rise' and 'clear leader' shows an ability to describe trends with precision. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would help elevate the response to a higher level of lexical sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You have maintained good control over grammar and punctuation throughout the text. There are a few minor slips, such as the repetition in 'showed the showed the' and the slight error in 'east urbanised' (likely meant 'least urbanised'). However, these are rare and do not detract from the overall clarity of the writing. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the use of complex structures is generally accurate, which is consistent with a high band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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