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)
In this graph we will discuss percentage of population in four Asian countries.Population in some countries decrease and increase in some countries.firstly in 1970 in Indonesia population was about 15 percent but with time this number had increased to 50 percent in 2020 and it will surmise that population of Indonesia rise to 50 percent in 2030 and 60 percent till 2040 and we saw number of population was almost 20 percent in 1970 in Thailand who had increased to 30 percent in 2020.It will expect that the population of Thailand increases to approximately 38 percent in 2030 and 48 percent in 2040.
As compare to other countries Malaysia has more population in recent times and now a days.in 1970 Malaysian population was almost 30 percent but in 2020 it had increased to 75 percent.Additionaley it will predict that the population of Malaysia will increase to 80 percent in 2030 and further rise in 2040 about 85 percent.
And last country is Philippines about 30 percent in 1970 and 40 percent in 2020.in future this number will increase to 50 percent in 2030 and 55 in 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all four countries and includes data for the start, end, and future projections. However, it lacks an overview of the main trends, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. The information is presented as a list of data points rather than a synthesis of the main features. For example, the report mentions specific percentages for each country but fails to highlight the overall upward trend across all nations or the fact that Malaysia consistently maintains the highest urbanization rate. To improve, you should include an introductory sentence that paraphrases the prompt and a clear overview paragraph summarizing the most significant trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often mechanical, such as starting sentences with 'firstly' or 'and last country'. There is a lack of linking words to connect ideas within sentences or between paragraphs, making the text feel like a series of disjointed statements. Referencing is also inconsistent; for instance, the transition between the description of Indonesia and Thailand is abrupt. Improving the use of transition signals like 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', or 'Similarly' would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'increase' and 'rise'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'it will surmise that' (which is used incorrectly) and 'in recent times and now a days'. The range of vocabulary is limited to the data provided in the graph. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' (e.g., 'climb', 'surge', 'grow') and use more precise language to describe trends, such as 'projected to reach' instead of 'it will expect that'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with tense usage, such as 'it will surmise that' and 'it will expect that', which should be passive voice ('it is surmised' or 'it is expected'). Punctuation is also problematic, with several run-on sentences and missing spaces after periods (e.g., '2020.It will expect'). While there is an attempt at complex structures, they are often inaccurate. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring correct subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy and overall readability.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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