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 line graph tracks the proportion of citizens living in urban centers in four different nations Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia over the period of 60 years from 1970 to 2030 and future preiction for next 10 years from 2030 to 2040.
Overall, Population in cities has gradually increased with very little fluctuation and will continue to climb in all four countries and Malaysia has most over crowded cities among all countries.
To begin with, in 1970 just almost 19% and 15% population of Thailand and Malaysia were living in the cities but then this percentage surged repidly in Indonesia and by 2040 it will be the second country with highest percentage of urban population of almost 65% among these four countries.
Furthermore, Philippines and Malaysia used to share almost 30% of population in developed regions with 70% in villages but according to this percentage for Philippines surged repidly and it will reach to almost 85% uptill 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the graph, including the overall trend and specific data points. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains inaccuracies. For example, you state that Malaysia has the 'most over crowded cities,' which is an interpretation not supported by the data provided. Furthermore, the description of the data for 1970 and the projections for 2040 lacks precision and clarity. While you identify the general upward trend, the comparison between countries is underdeveloped. To improve, ensure that your data reporting is accurate and that you provide a more logical comparison of the trends across the four nations rather than listing isolated figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore,' the transitions between sentences are occasionally mechanical or confusing. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages for the Philippines and Malaysia. Improving the logical flow between your overview and the body paragraphs, as well as using a wider variety of linking words, would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it is limited and contains several errors. You use terms like 'repidly' (spelling error) and 'uptill,' which are not appropriate for an academic report. Additionally, the phrase 'most over crowded cities' is an inaccurate use of vocabulary in this context, as the graph measures the percentage of the population living in cities, not population density or overcrowding. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'surged,' 'fluctuated,' or 'projected,' while ensuring accurate spelling and word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in 1970 just almost 19%'), incorrect preposition usage ('reach to almost 85%'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('Population in cities has...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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