Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 6.0)

The line graph presents the proportion of the population living in cities in four different Asian countries between 1970 and 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, all countries experienced an upward trajectory, and their predictions followed the same trend. The Philippines faced some fluctuations throughout the whole period, but at the end the proportion of it was greater than at the beginning.

Firstly, the Philippines was on top with 31% in 1970 and jumped to 32% in 1980. The Philippines faced a significant increase to about 50% in 1990 and fell to 45% in 2000 and then 40% in 2010. In 2020, there was slight growth in the share of the Philippines, which moved to 42%. The prediction for the Philippines is an upward trend with about 50% in 2030 and approximately 52% in 2040. Secondly, Malaysia jumped from 30% in 1970 to 40%, but in 1980 it climbed to about 45%. Moreover, Malaysia surpassed the Philippines, which moved to 60% in 2010, and then followed the upward trend in 2010 at 70% and jumped to 75% in 2020. The prediction for Malaysia showed 80% for 2030 and about 83% for 2040.

In addition, Thailand jumped from 19% in 1970 to 22% in 1980 and climbed to 27% in 1990. From 1990 to 2020, Thailand witnessed a plateaued trend and reached about 28% in 2020. The prediction for Thailand showed an upward trajectory with 35% for 2030 and about 42% for 2040. In the end, Indonesia faced an upward trend, with 13% in 1970 and 16% in 1980, then jumping from 22% in 1990 to 25% in 2000. In 2010, Indonesia surpassed Thailand, and in 2020, it exceeded the Philippines. The prediction showed 60% for 2030 and 62% in 2040 for Indonesia.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task, including the historical data and future predictions. You successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the four countries. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, as it lists data points for each country sequentially rather than synthesizing the information more effectively. While you highlight that Indonesia surpassed Thailand and the Philippines, more focus on the overall 'big picture'—such as the stark contrast between the rapid growth of Malaysia/Indonesia versus the slower, more stable growth of Thailand—would have strengthened the analysis. The overview is present but could be more insightful regarding the varying rates of urbanization.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on specific countries. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly,' 'In addition,' and 'In the end' to guide the reader. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive, relying heavily on listing percentages year-by-year. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to group information by trends (e.g., countries with rapid growth vs. those with slower growth) rather than just listing each country in its own paragraph, which would improve the flow and logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trajectory,' 'fluctuations,' 'surpassed,' and 'plateaued.' There is some repetition of the word 'jumped' and 'trend,' which limits the sophistication of the writing. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. For instance, instead of 'jumped,' you could use 'surged,' 'soared,' or 'experienced a sharp rise.' The word choice is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over basic grammar, and your meaning is always clear. There are some minor errors, such as 'the proportion of it was greater' (which is slightly awkward phrasing) and 'the prediction for Malaysia showed 80% for 2030' (which could be more naturally phrased as 'is predicted to reach 80%'). While you attempt complex sentences, they are sometimes slightly clunky. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures and ensuring more precise subject-verb agreement would help improve your score in this area.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.