Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the percentages of the total population residing in the cities of four Asian countries - Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia - between 1970 and 2020, along with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, all countries followed an upward trend over the period. Malaysia and Indonesia experienced rapid growth, while the Philippines initially fluctuated before recovering to gradual growth. Meanwhile, Thailand showed a gradual increasing pattern. In the future, all countries are projected to increase gradually.

At the start of the period, the Philippines and Malaysia had nearly equal proportion of urban residents, with about 30% and 30%, respectively. Around 1990, the figures for both countries crossed at approximately 45%. Meanwhile, Thiland had just under 20% urban population, while Indonesia had the lowest proportion of roughly 14% city dwellers in 1970; and in 2000, the figures of Thailand and Indonesia intersected at around 30%. Similarly, in 2010, the figures of Indonesia crossed the Philippines at around 46%.

From 2030 to 2040, all countries are predicted to follow a steady increasing pattern, with Malaysia having the highest urban population growth of around 85%, Indonesia at about 60%, the Philippines at roughly 56%, and Thailand will has lowest growth rate of urban population at around 48%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four countries and included both the historical data and the future projections. The key features, such as the intersection points and the final rankings, are highlighted well. To reach a higher band, ensure that your comparisons are more precise; for example, when mentioning that Malaysia had the highest growth, it would be beneficial to explicitly contrast this with the lower growth rates of the other countries to provide a more analytical summary. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses all requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Similarly', and 'At the start of the period' to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the historical data from the future projections. The progression of ideas is clear throughout the text. To improve further, ensure that the transition between the historical trends and the future predictions is slightly smoother to enhance the overall flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'upward trend', 'residing in the cities', and 'intersected at' are used accurately. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'Thiland' instead of 'Thailand'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'climb', 'surge', 'plateau') would help elevate the lexical range. The current vocabulary is functional and precise enough to communicate the data without any ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. However, there are a few grammatical slips, such as 'Thailand will has lowest growth rate', which should be 'Thailand will have the lowest growth rate'. Additionally, ensure consistent use of articles and prepositions. Despite these occasional errors, your control over grammar is generally good, and the meaning is never obscured. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

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

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