Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-31

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 chart illustrates the share of the urban population in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with the predicted figures for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the proportion of people living in cities showed an upward trend in all four countries, and the figures are projected to continue rising over the following two decades. Malaysia had the largest proportion from 2000 onwards and is expected to maintain this position, while Indonesia experienced a particularly significant rise and became the country with the second-highest country by 2020 despite starting with the lowest percentage.

In terms of Malasia, the figure started at 30% in 1970 but more than doubled to approximately 75% by 2020, making Malasia the country with the largest share of city dwellers. It is projected to rise further to just over 80% by 2040. The Philippines had the largest share of the urban population in 1970, at around 33%. After rising by approximately by 17 percentage points over the following 20 years, however, the figure declined gradually to about 43% in 2010, the same level as Indonesia. It is then expected to recover and reach roughly 55% by 2040.

As regards Indonesia, it had the lowest share in 1970, but increased substantially over the following 50 years. It caught up with Thailand at approximately 30% in 2000 and reached the same level as the Philippines in 2010, before overtaking both countries and recording the second-highest proportion, at just over 50%, in 2020. The figure is predicted to rise further to approximately 64% by 2040. By contrast, Thailand showed a more moderate increase, rising from about 18% in 1970 to approximately 33% in 2020, before a projected increase to about 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features, such as Malaysia's consistent lead and Indonesia's significant growth. The comparisons between countries are well-integrated, particularly when noting the points where countries 'caught up' or 'overtook' one another. The data is accurately represented, and the inclusion of both historical data and future projections is handled well. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between the past and future tense is consistently maintained throughout the analysis, as there were minor inconsistencies in the tense usage when discussing projections.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to specific country comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'In terms of', and 'after rising' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly. The referencing is clear, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the four nations. The structure is well-managed, and the use of cohesive devices is neither mechanical nor repetitive, contributing to a coherent and professional-sounding report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'upward trend', 'projected to continue rising', 'significant rise', and 'city dwellers' demonstrate a good command of topic-specific language. There is a clear attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the word choices are generally accurate and appropriate for an academic report. While there are minor spelling errors (e.g., 'Malasia' instead of 'Malaysia'), these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition and maintains a formal, objective tone throughout the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'making Malasia the country with the largest share'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally well-controlled. There are occasional minor slips, such as the redundant 'by' in 'rising by approximately by 17 percentage points' and the spelling error 'Malasia'. However, these are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of the report. The mix of simple and complex sentences is effective for this type of task.

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