Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-18
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 illustrated line graph depicts the percentage of population living in the four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, along with the predictions for years 2030 and 2040. Respectively, the countries are Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
The graph shows the data in which Philippines population was aound 32% in 1970 and gradually increased and predicted that it will reach to 56% in 2040. Meanwhile the population of Malaysia was 30% in 1970 and dramatically increased to74% in 2020 and expected to rise about 80% in 2040. On the other side Thailand population was around 19% and constantaly increased to around 30% in 2020 and predicted that it will reach to approximatly 50% in 2040. In the last Indonesia's population was around 12% in 1970 and sharply increased about 50% and expected to reach 60% in 2040.
In comparison, Malaysia recorded the higher population and preidicted to rise more in future as compared to all other three countries. On the other hand the lowest population among all the other countires was Thailand which is also lowest in the preditions as well.
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 response successfully covers all four countries and provides a general overview of the trends from 1970 to 2040. The main features are reported, such as Malaysia's significant urban population growth and Thailand remaining the lowest. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in reporting specific data points, such as stating Malaysia's 2020 figure was 74% instead of approximately 76%, and minor typos in figures like 'aound'. Despite these slight errors, the overall response presents a clear and adequate summary of the visual data, fulfilling the core requirements of Task Achievement at this level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by a body paragraph detailing the trends for each country, and a concluding overview paragraph. Cohesive devices are used to link ideas, such as 'Meanwhile', 'On the other side', and 'In comparison'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes a bit mechanical or abrupt. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall arrangement maintains a coherent flow, making the information easy to follow despite minor phrasing awkwardnesses.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'dramatically increased', 'gradually increased', and 'predictions'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'aound', 'constantaly', and 'approximatly'. Furthermore, the writer frequently uses 'population' when referring to the 'percentage of the population', which is a slight imprecision in data reporting. These errors do not impede communication, but they reflect a Band 6 level of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'the percentage of population living in the four Asian countries' (missing 'the' before population) and 'Philippines population was aound 32%'. In the final paragraph, 'Malaysia recorded the higher population' should be 'the highest'. While these errors occur regularly, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, supporting a Band 6 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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