Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-07

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 6.5)

The line graph compares the population in four Asian countries: Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020 and also shows the expected proportion of population in these countries for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is evident that all four countries recorded an increasing trend over the period and are predicted to rise in population in future. Malaysia experienced substantial growth, while Philippines recorded minimal growth.

The proportion of population in Malaysia slightly climbed from 30% in 1970 to nearly 45% in 1990, it peaked at around 75% in 2020 and is expected to surge to approximately 85% in 2040. In contrast, Philippines started with 30% in 1970, it grew marginally to roughly 50% in 1990. Subsequently, it dipped minimally to nearly 45% in 2020 and is expected to increase again at around 55% in 2040.

Additionally, the percentage of population in Thailand and Indonesia was around 19% and 12% in 1970 respectively, the figure increased slightly to around 29% and 24% in 1990. While in 2020, the proportion of population in Indonesia peaked at almost 50%, the percentage of Thailand slightly grew to approximately 30%. Both of these countries are supposed to see an increase in the percentage of population at about 60% and 45% in 2040 respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data, including the predictions for 2030 and 2040. The comparison between countries is well-handled, and you have selected relevant data points to support your descriptions. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, the description of the Philippines' trend as 'minimal growth' is slightly inaccurate given the significant rise from 30% to 50% between 1970 and 1990. Overall, the information is well-selected and logically presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Additionally', and 'Subsequently' to guide the reader through the data. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the comma splices in 'Malaysia slightly climbed... it peaked' and 'Philippines started... it grew'. Improving the use of complex sentences to link these ideas would enhance the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group the countries, which helps the reader follow the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'substantial growth', 'surged', and 'proportion of population' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'supposed to see' which is slightly informal for an academic report. While you use some less common items, there is room to incorporate more precise academic collocations to describe trends. The vocabulary is generally accurate and does not impede communication, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are error-free, there are recurring issues with punctuation, specifically comma splices where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma (e.g., 'Malaysia slightly climbed... it peaked'). Additionally, there are minor prepositional errors, such as 'increase again at around 55%' instead of 'to around 55%'. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammatical control is generally good. Focusing on sentence combining techniques and punctuation will help you move into the higher bands.

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

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