Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given line chart illustrates the proportion of population of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020.

Overall, the chart shows different variation of people living in cities, over time period of half century.

In the period 1970, Indonesian citizen aquire the least proportion of population, till 2020 the ratio were inclined , which was almost 50%, but with prediction the fraction reached 60%. Moreover, the population of Thailand were 20% in the beginning year, till 2020 the ratio was increased with only 10%. On the other hand, however with prediction the fraction will inclined rapidly, approximately 50%.

Furthermore, in 1970 the residence of Malaysia were 30%, but the fraction were raise surprisingly, till 2020 the percentage was almost 70%, with prediction, in the end of the year ratio will remain 80%. The population of Philippines were 30% in 1970 and fraction were fluctuate till 2010, after that period with prediction the proportion will almost 50%

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and mentions the time frame and predictions. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student identifies some data points but fails to effectively highlight the main trends or make meaningful comparisons between the countries. For example, the description of the Philippines' data as 'fluctuate' is vague and lacks specific detail. The overview is also quite weak, failing to capture the overall upward trend across all countries. To improve, focus on grouping the countries by their growth patterns rather than listing them individually, and ensure that the 'main features' are clearly synthesized for the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and awkward transitions. While some cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used, they are sometimes placed incorrectly or do not logically connect the ideas. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'in the end of the year', which does not clearly refer to the 2040 prediction. The progression of ideas feels mechanical rather than fluid. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of incorrect word choice and word formation, such as 'aquire' instead of 'accounted for', 'residence' instead of 'residents', and 'fraction were raise' instead of 'the proportion rose'. The student relies on basic terms like 'ratio', 'proportion', and 'fraction' throughout the text. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'climb', 'surge', 'plateau', or 'gradual increase', and ensure that word forms (nouns vs. verbs) are used accurately in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Indonesian citizen aquire', 'population of Thailand were', 'fraction were fluctuate') and tense usage. The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complex constructions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces and missing commas. To improve, the student should focus on basic subject-verb agreement and ensure that verbs are correctly conjugated for the past and future tenses. Reducing the number of errors in simple sentences is a priority before attempting more complex structures.

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

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