Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-06

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 illustration shows the percentage of people from four Asian countries who preferred to live in cities from the time period of 1970 to 2020 and a prediction of this percentage growth in future till 2040.Overall each country's population towards cities has increased with time with Malaysia at the top in in 2040 with over 80 percent which started from 30 percent in year 1970. On other hand Philippines was also at the same mark in 1970 and had a decline in the graph from 1990 to 2010 after that it started increasing but a slow pace and will finish at over 50 percent in year 2040.Thailand and Indonesia both were below 20 percent in 1970 and both had a similar growth but in 2000, it was the first time when Indonesia surpassed Thailand and it spiked from here and crossed Malaysia in 2010 with more than 40 percent population in cities, in 2040, it will end at 55 percent. Thailand will have the least population in 2040 which will be about 40 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all key features of the graph, including the starting points, trends, and end predictions. You successfully identified the main trends for all four countries. However, the report lacks a clear structure; it is presented as a single block of text rather than distinct paragraphs. While you mention the main features, the analysis could be more precise by grouping the countries based on their trends (e.g., those with steady growth versus those with fluctuations). The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant differences between the countries.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response suffers from a lack of paragraphing, which is essential for a clear IELTS Task 1 response. The ideas are generally sequenced logically, but the transition between countries is somewhat abrupt. You use some cohesive devices like 'On other hand' and 'but', but the flow is hindered by the lack of structural breaks. To improve, you should separate your introduction/overview from the body paragraphs that detail the specific data points. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall organization needs to be more formal and structured.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'surpassed', 'prediction', and 'growth'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'preferred to live in cities' (the graph shows percentage of population, not preference) and 'at the same mark' (which is slightly imprecise). There are also minor errors in collocation, such as 'at a slow pace' instead of 'at a slower pace'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message, but it lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in in 2040', 'from the time period of 1970 to 2020', and 'after that it started increasing but a slow pace'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences that make the text harder to follow. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundaries and preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

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.