Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-16
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 given graph provides data on the percentage of the population in four Asian countries—the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia—living in cities from 1970 to 2020.
Overall, Malaysia had the highest proportion of people living in cities, while Thailand had the lowest figure. Indonesia experienced the most significant increase, whereas the Philippines showed some fluctuations during the period.
In 1970, Indonesia had the lowest proportion, at around 12%. This figure rose significantly to approximately 60% in 2020, surpassing Thailand and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the proportion in Thailand increased gradually from about 19% in 1970 to around 48% at the end of the period.
The Philippines started at approximately 31% in 1970 and experienced some fluctuations. The figure increased until 1990, before falling gradually and then recovering to about 52% in 2020. Malaysia, on the other hand, showed a substantial rise from around 30% to 80%, remaining the country with the highest proportion of urban population at the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing an overview and selecting key features and trends from the data. The opening statement correctly identifies the countries and timeframe. The overview captures the main trends effectively, noting Malaysia highest, Thailand lowest, and Indonesia's substantial growth. However, there are some inaccuracies in reading the specific data points against the graph. For instance, Indonesia in 1970 started at around 14%, not 12%, and by 2020 it reached about 52%, whereas the student states it reached 'approximately 60% in 2020'. Similarly, Thailand's end figure is reported as around 48%, whereas it is closer to 33.5% for 2020 (or 49.5% for the 2040 prediction). These data inaccuracies prevent the score from reaching the highest bands, but the overall task is still adequately addressed with clear comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing specific country data. Information and ideas are coherently sequenced, and the progression is clear. The student makes reasonable use of cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'On the other hand', and 'before falling gradually'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the visual data. Referencing is generally clear, though smoother integration of data points would elevate the cohesion further. Overall, the structural framework of the essay is sound and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response, using terms such as 'proportion', 'fluctuations', 'substantial rise', and 'surpassing'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some lexical choices or data interpretations are slightly imprecise. Spelling is generally accurate throughout the response. While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features of the graph, it lacks the broader flexibility and precision characteristic of higher band scores, relying on somewhat repetitive phraseology when describing upward and downward trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'surpassing Thailand and the Philippines', 'before falling gradually and then recovering'). Grammatical control is fairly good, and the majority of sentences are clear and communicate meaning effectively. There are some minor awkwardness or tense slips, but punctuation and sentence boundaries are generally well managed. The range of structures is sufficient to allow for a clear presentation of the comparative data without hindering comprehension.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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