Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13

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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of people living in urban areas in four Asian countries — the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia — from 1970 to 2020, along with projected figures for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, all four countries experienced a rise in urbanization over the period shown, and this upward trend is expected to continue in the coming decades. Malaysia stands out as having consistently the highest level of urban population, while Thailand generally had the lowest for most of the timeframe.

In 1970, the Philippines and Malaysia had similar urbanization levels, at around 32%, considerably higher than Thailand (14%) and Indonesia (17%). Malaysia's urban population then grew steadily and substantially, reaching roughly 61% by 2000 and continuing to climb to a projected 83% by 2040, making it the most urbanized of the four nations throughout the period.

The Philippines followed a somewhat different pattern: after rising to a peak of about 49% in 1990, its urban population actually dipped slightly through 2000 and 2010, before gradually recovering to reach a projected 55% by 2040. This fluctuation makes it the only country among the four not to show continuous growth throughout.

Thailand and Indonesia began at similarly low levels but diverged over time. Thailand's urban population grew only gradually, staying near 30–33% between 1990 and 2020, before rising more sharply to a projected 50% by 2040. Indonesia, by contrast, saw faster growth from 2010 onwards, overtaking Thailand and the Philippines to reach a projected 64% by 2040, second only to Malaysia.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response provides a clear and fully developed overview of the main trends and features of the line graph. All four countries are accounted for, and key data points such as initial figures, peaks, dips, and projected endpoints are accurately reported and contrasted. The introduction effectively paraphrases the prompt, and the overview captures the general upward trajectory and relative rankings of the nations. The selection of data is well-judged, fulfilling all requirements of the task effectively without unnecessary mechanical listing. This performance corresponds strongly with the Band 8 descriptor for covering all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from the general overview to specific country comparisons. Paragraphing is used very appropriately, with distinct sections for the introduction, overview, and individual or grouped country analyses. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1970', 'then', 'after rising', and 'by contrast' are managed skillfully to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Referencing is clear throughout, and information flows smoothly without intrusive transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary is used precisely to describe trends and proportions, such as 'proportion', 'urbanization levels', 'climb', 'dipped slightly', and 'diverged over time'. Less common items and collocation are handled naturally ('consistently the highest level', 'projected figures', 'steady and substantial'). There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, making the language fluent and sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including participial phrases ('along with projected figures', 'making it the most urbanized'), time clauses ('after rising to a peak...'), and relative clauses. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and control over punctuation and tense consistency (past data combined with future projections) is excellent. Only very occasional, minor complexities could be pushed further for a Band 9, but the current control easily satisfies the Band 8 criteria.

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.