Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-02

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 graph illustrates the percentage of population in the four different asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, from the beginning Malaysia account to have a significant increased and Indonesia also got the good number of increasement during the period.Thailand got the most lowest population living in the cities by 2040.

Malaysia and Philippines started their total percentage with 30% at 1970, the Malaysia saw a huge increase and closed at 80% around 2040. Philippines got the fluctuation in its population and by 2020 it was at 45% , is predicted to be at 50% in the end of the given year.

On the other hand, Indonesia made a significant increase in their indices and seeing of ending it upto 60% by the year 2040. Similarly, Thailand got the 20% of total population and it was increased up to 30% and it's assumed that will close at nearly 40% in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all four countries and the time frame provided. However, the overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the main trends, such as the general upward trajectory across all nations. The description of data is sometimes inaccurate or vague, such as stating Thailand has the 'most lowest' population, which is grammatically awkward and lacks precision. While the main features are identified, the analysis is somewhat superficial, and the reporting of figures could be more precise to better support the comparisons required by the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. For example, 'On the other hand' is used to introduce Indonesia, but this does not contrast well with the previous paragraph about Malaysia and the Philippines. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, and the referencing (e.g., 'the Malaysia') is occasionally unclear or incorrect. More varied linking words are needed to improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several non-standard word choices, such as 'increasement' (which is not a standard English word) and 'most lowest' (which is a double superlative). Phrases like 'got the good number' and 'seeing of ending it' are unnatural and informal. While the student attempts to describe trends, the lack of precise terminology for data reporting (e.g., 'upward trend', 'plateaued', 'projected to reach') hinders the clarity of the report. A wider range of academic vocabulary is required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in articles ('the Malaysia', 'the Philippines'), subject-verb agreement ('Malaysia account to have'), and tense usage ('it was increased'). Some sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'the Malaysia saw a huge increase and closed at 80% around 2040.' These errors occasionally impede the reader's understanding. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic grammatical accuracy and the correct use of prepositions and verb tenses when describing data.

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