Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-17
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 graph illustrates information about the population percentage in cities of different countries such as Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia accross the period from 1970 to 2030.The units of population are measured in percentage.
Overall,it is clear that the population of Malaysia increased throughout period and remained highest among all countries. While the population of Pillippines fluctuated throughout period. Whereas, the population of the Thailand and Indonesia grown rapidly.
The population of Malaysia increased from 30% in 1970 to to 82% in 2040 making it a highest population country. Whereas, the population of Philippines fluctuated throughout given period, starting from 30% in 1970 reached at 50% in 1990 and after it its percentage declined at less than 40% in 2010 and then suddenly increased upto 50% in 2040.
Returning to the remaining countries, both Thailand and Indonesia showed increased in population. Population in Indonesia sharply increased from 12% in 1970 to 60% in 2040, represented the second highest population country. While the population of Thailand increased at 43% in 2040 and remained the lowest population containing among given countries.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student covers all parts of the task by reporting on the four countries and outlining the main trends from 1970 to 2040, including the predictions. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting Malaysia's dominance and growth, the Philippines' fluctuations, and the growth in Thailand and Indonesia. However, there are several minor inaccuracies in the reported data when compared to the visual source. For instance, the student states that Malaysia started at 30% and reached 82% in 2040, whereas the graph shows 2040 at around 83.5%. Similarly, the Philippines' starting point is given as 30% (actual is 32%), and Indonesia's start is given as 12% (actual is 14%). Despite these minor data discrepancies, the key features, rankings, and comparisons are successfully identified and presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response has a clear overall arrangement with an introductory paragraph, an overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to specific countries. Cohesive devices are used to link ideas, such as 'Overall', 'While', 'Whereas', and 'Returning to the remaining countries'. However, paragraphing is slightly unpolished, with the overview combined into a very short second paragraph. Referencing is sometimes repetitive ('the population of... the population of...'), and transitions can feel a bit mechanical. Despite these minor flaws in cohesion and referencing, the progression of information remains logical and easy to follow throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'fluctuated throughout period', 'declined at less than 40%', and 'sharply increased'. However, there are several word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'population percentage in cities of different countries' instead of 'percentage of the urban population', 'grown rapidly' instead of 'grew rapidly', and 'lowest population containing' instead of 'lowest urban percentage'. There are also minor spelling and typographical errors like 'accross' and 'Pillippines'. These errors do not impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While the population of Philippines fluctuated throughout given period, starting from...'). There are, however, frequent grammatical errors, such as missing prepositions or articles ('throughout period', 'making it a highest population country'), tense inconsistencies ('grown rapidly' instead of 'grew rapidly'), and awkward phrasing ('increased at 43%'). Punctuation has occasional minor issues, such as missing spaces after periods. Although errors are noticeable, they rarely impede overall communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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