Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
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 that Malaysian population has the highest percentage, whereas the Philippines had lowest, while Thailand grew 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 philippines was 30% in 1970 and also fluctuated in 2010 and remained stable at 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 continued to grow from the year of 1970, and the population of Asian countries' population will grow steadily until 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to cover all parts of the task by reporting information for all four countries over the given time frame. However, the overview is extremely vague and contains inaccurate summaries (e.g., stating 'Thailand grew but Indonesia gradually reached' which lacks clarity). Furthermore, some data points reported in the body paragraphs are imprecise or incorrect compared to the visual data; for instance, stating that Malaysia's population jumped to 80% throughout 2040 (it reaches around 83.5%), and claiming the Philippines remained stable at 50% by 2030 when the graph shows 50.5% as a projection. While the general trends are touched upon, the lack of precision and a well-developed overview pulls this criterion down.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is structured into basic paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief concluding overview. However, logical progression is frequently disrupted by imprecise transitions and weak referencing. Phrases like 'After that it increased in 1990 by 45%' are confusing because 'by 45%' sounds like the increase amount rather than the final percentage. Cohesive devices are used mechanically ('Additionally', 'Moreover', 'Meanwhile'), and pronouns are occasionally ambiguous, making the logical relationships between ideas difficult to follow in places.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for describing data, using terms such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'increased', and 'fluctuated'. However, there are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'Malaysia population has the highest percentage', 'Thailand's ratio was enhanced', and 'Indonesian proportion was lowest'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are either imprecise or grammatically flawed. Spelling is generally accurate, but word choice limitations occasionally restrict precise communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several structural and article errors, such as missing articles ('the Philippines had lowest', 'population of philippines'), awkward tense management ('remained stable at 50% by 2030' when 2030 is a future prediction), and incomplete comparative structures. While meaning is generally understandable despite these errors, the frequency of grammatical slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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