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 line graph illustrates the proportion of Asian countries population living in urban areas, namely the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020, with predictions between 2030 and 2040.
Overall, it is evident the Malaysian population has the highest percentage, whereas the Philippines was lowest, while Thailand continually increased but Indonesia gradually reached.
It can be seen that the percentage of Malaysia was 30% in 1970. After that it increased in 1990 by 45% and jumped throughout 2040 by 80%. Meanwhile the population of the philippian was 30% in 1970 and also fluctuated in 2010 and steadily stable in 50% by 2030.
Additionally, Thailand's ratio was 20% in 1970 and it was enhanced from 1990 to 2030, while over the period the Indonesian proportion was lowest at 15% in 1970.
Moreover, the population rate was continued to grow from the year of 1970, and the population of Asian countrie's population will growing steadily untill 204
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by reporting on the four countries and outlining the overall trends from 1970 to 2040. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, though it is somewhat confused and inaccurate regarding specific movements (e.g., stating 'the Philippines was lowest, while Thailand continually increased but Indonesia gradually reached'). Key features are identified, such as Malaysia having the highest percentage and reaching high levels by 2040, but some data points are misreported or vague (e.g., stating the Philippines was 'steadily stable in 50% by 2030' when the graph shows 50.5% in 2030, and stating Thailand was 20% in 1970 when the graph shows 18%). Overall, the task is addressed, but the reporting of data lacks precision and the overview needs clearer synthesis.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is arranged into paragraphs, starting with an introduction, an overview, and subsequent body paragraphs detailing specific country data. However, the logical progression is hindered by weak cohesion and confusing transitions. For instance, sentences like 'After that it increased in 1990 by 45% and jumped throughout 2040 by 80%' are awkward and difficult to follow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly with pronouns and comparative structures. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion is mechanical and occasionally faulty, impacting the overall readability of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'proportion', 'predictions', and 'fluctuated'. However, there are notable lexical errors and unnatural word choices throughout the text, such as 'Asian countries population' instead of 'population of Asian countries', 'the philippian' instead of 'the Philippines', and 'Indonesia gradually reached'. Spelling errors also occur, such as 'untill' and 'countrie's'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning, but frequent inaccuracies in word choice and collocation prevent it from reaching a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing prepositions, incorrect subject-verb agreement, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'the percentage of Malaysia was 30%', 'Thailand's ratio was 20% and it was enhanced from 1990 to 2030', and the final sentence 'the population rate was continued to grow... and the population of Asian countrie's population will growing steadily untill 204'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the density of structural and grammatical errors frequently impedes smooth reading and obscures meaning.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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