Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The line graph depicts the changes of the population percentage. The population percentage data is extracted from four Asian countries, followed by the future prediction on population percentage as well.
Overall line graph shows the highest population percentage is of Malaysia, whereas the lowest population percentage is of Thailand.
From the year of 1970 to the 2020 (Not the prediction years) the lowest population percentage is of Indonesia, and the highest population percentage is of Philippines. In that period the rapid increment is of Malaysia, compared to rest three Asian countries. In the rapid decrease of population percentage is none, because two countries were met the same percentage in the year of 2000, followed by the lowest of Thailand country population.
The future prediction of these four Asian countries by the year of 2040 from 2020 the growth of Indonesia country shows above 60% and the highest is of Malaysia which is above 80%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to adequately address the task. While it identifies some trends, the analysis is fragmented and lacks a clear, logical overview of the data. The description of the trends is confusing, particularly the claim that there was a 'rapid decrease' in population percentage, which is not supported by the graph. Furthermore, the response fails to provide specific data points or meaningful comparisons between the four countries, relying instead on vague descriptions like 'above 60%'. To improve, you must select key features, provide accurate data points from the graph, and ensure the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than listing isolated observations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear logical progression. The paragraphing is disjointed, and the transition between the historical data and the future predictions is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and often inaccurate way, such as the phrase 'followed by the lowest of Thailand country population,' which does not clearly link to the previous clause. The referencing is also unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the four countries. To improve, focus on using transition signals (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Conversely') to connect ideas and ensure each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic phrasing like 'population percentage' and 'highest/lowest'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and unnatural collocations, such as 'the rapid increment is of Malaysia' and 'two countries were met the same percentage'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the message. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'proportion,' 'urbanization,' 'projected to reach,' or 'experienced a steady climb,' and ensure that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow of the writing. There are issues with article usage ('the lowest population percentage is of Thailand'), sentence structure, and awkward phrasing ('the future prediction of these four Asian countries by the year of 2040 from 2020'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence forms, and the existing attempts at complex structures are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and then introduce a variety of complex structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, while ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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