Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-15
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 4.5)
The line chart illustrates the percentage of the population in four different countries over a period of 1970 to 2040.
overall,the graph compares the growth of population and their expected growth in coming years.
in 1970,the propotion of the poupulation in philippines and malaysia almost on 30 percent respectively.while,percentage of population in other two countries below than 20 percent.furthermore,percentage of population fluctuated in philippines over a period of time.but,in malaysia there was a huge climbed in the percentage of people which is almost on 70 percent in 2020 same trend shown in other two countries the perecntage of people oscillating over a period of time aslike indonesia percentage increased almost 10 percent in 2000 then there was surge in gaining of percentage
in future,percentage of population expected to stay on above 80 percent in philippines
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The student attempts to address the task by describing the line chart regarding the percentage of the urban population in four Asian countries. However, the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 135 words. Furthermore, the report is incomplete and trails off abruptly mid-sentence ('in future,percentage of population expected to stay on above 80 percent in philippines'). While the writer makes some valid initial observations regarding the starting figures in 1970, key trends and overall comparisons are underdeveloped or misread, such as the inaccurate claim about future projections for the Philippines. Because the task is unfinished and under length, the score is restricted to Band 4.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The organization of the response is extremely weak. The text is divided into erratic paragraphs, with the second paragraph starting uncapitalized and the final sentence completely detached and incomplete. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, relying on repetitive transitions like 'over a period of time' and awkward connectors such as 'aslike indonesia'. There is no clear overall progression of information, and referencing is faulty throughout, making the response difficult to follow. Paragraphing is not used effectively to separate distinct ideas or time periods. These issues place the response firmly in Band 4.0 for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent spelling and word-choice errors. Examples include 'propotion', 'poupulation', 'philippines' (lowercase), and awkward phrases like 'huge climbed' and 'surge in gaining of percentage'. The range of vocabulary is limited and barely adequate to convey the topic, with little evidence of less common lexical items used accurately. Spelling errors occur across common words, and word formation is often faulty (e.g., 'percentage of people oscillating... aslike indonesia percentage increased'). These lexical inadequacies correspond to a Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. The majority of sentences are simple or attempt complex forms that result in severe structural errors, such as missing verbs ('were almost on 30 percent respectively.while,percentage...') and incorrect prepositions. Punctuation and capitalization are largely neglected, with sentences beginning without capital letters and clauses incorrectly fused. Frequent grammatical errors cause significant strain for the reader and obscure the intended meaning in multiple places. Therefore, a band score of 4.0 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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