Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-03

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 7.0)

The line graph gives information about the percentage of the population living in cities in four Asian countries — the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia — from 1970 to 2020, with projections up to 2040.

Overall, it can be seen that Malaysia's percentage showed a significant increase during the period, while the proportion of urban population in Thailand experienced a slow and steady upward trend, remaining consistently below the other countries for most of the period.

In detail, the urban population rates of the Philippines and Malaysia were 33% and 30% respectively in 1970. Malaysia went up sharply through the period, exceeding the Philippines in 1980 and reaching 83% by the end of the period. In the percentage of Indonesia, in 1970 it increased to 17% in 1980, and then remained around 25-30% until 2000. From 2000 to 2010 it experienced a rapid surge to more than 40%, and continued with a gradual rise to 64% in 2040.

Moving on to the Philippines and Thailand, in the early 1990s, the Philippines' rate of 49% was the highest among the four countries. However, it sharply declined at approximately 42% by 2010, recording a lower percentage than both Malaysia and Indonesia at that point. Then, there was a rise of around 14 percentage points to 56% by 2040, but Thailand's rate, at 50%, was still the lowest among the four countries by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have identified the main trends and provided data points to support your descriptions. The overview clearly highlights the contrasting trends between Malaysia and Thailand. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the data reporting: you mention the Philippines' rate was 49% in the early 1990s, but the graph shows this peak occurred in 1990. Additionally, the description of Indonesia's 1970-1980 trend is slightly confusingly phrased. Overall, the information is well-selected and the main features are clearly presented, meeting the requirements for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In detail', 'Moving on to', and 'However' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different countries and time periods. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing is generally accurate, although the transition between the Philippines and Thailand in the final paragraph could be slightly smoother to avoid a sense of list-like reporting.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'significant increase', 'slow and steady upward trend', and 'rapid surge' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic report. There are occasional minor issues with collocation, such as 'In the percentage of Indonesia', which is slightly awkward. However, you successfully use less common items and maintain a formal tone throughout the response. The vocabulary is adequate to convey the trends accurately without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'it sharply declined at approximately 42%', where 'to' would be more appropriate than 'at'. Another minor error is 'In the percentage of Indonesia', which is grammatically incomplete. Despite these occasional slips, the majority of your sentences are accurate, and your use of punctuation and complex structures supports clear communication.

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