Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19

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 graph below illustrates the information regarding proportion of the inhabitants among four Asian countries that were living in different cities between 1970 to 2020, with assumptions for 2030 and 2040. Overall it was evident that trend shows an upward and fluctuating pattern throughout the period.

Now turning to the details, Indonesia in 1970, showed the percentage of total population of about 15% and constanstanly increasing throughout the period. Subsequently, Thailand represented the ratio of nearly 19% residants in 1970 and increased to 1990 and afterthat remained stable till 2020, afterward it increased again till 2040. However, Phillippines demonstrated fluctuating trend in the 1970 and from 1990 to 2010, there was a decilne in the ratio and then it gradually increased in the last three years. In contrast, Malaysia showed the overall increase from 1970 to 2040 than other cities as it can be seen a notable rise in the whole graph.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main trends in the chart, noting overall upward movements and specific trajectories for countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the text claims that the Philippines showed a fluctuating trend in the 1970s and a decline from 1990 to 2010 (whereas the graph shows a drop from 48% in 2000 to 42.5% in 2010 after rising from 1970). Furthermore, terms like 'other cities' used to describe countries demonstrate a misunderstanding of the data units. The overview is overly brief and vague ('trend shows an upward and fluctuating pattern'). Consequently, the response addresses the task only partially, earning a band score of 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is structured into an introduction and a single very dense body paragraph. The transition phrases such as 'Now turning to the details', 'Subsequently', and 'In contrast' are mechanical and somewhat overused, and the lack of clear paragraph breaks makes the text difficult to follow. There is an attempt at logical sequencing, but referencing is occasionally unclear, such as shifting abruptly between countries without clear thematic grouping. The overall arrangement demonstrates some organization, but progression is hindered by the single-block body structure and clunky cohesive ties. This aligns with the descriptors for Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student uses a limited range of vocabulary, with noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text. Examples include 'constanstanly', 'residants', 'Phillippines', 'decilne', and using 'cities' instead of 'countries'. While there are attempts at less common vocabulary ('proportion', 'fluctuating trend', 'ratio'), inaccuracies in collocation and spelling cause some difficulty for the reader and impede smooth reading. The lexical control is generally inadequate for higher bands, placing this aspect at a Band 5.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but many sentences suffer from faulty grammar and punctuation. Examples of errors include awkward relative clauses ('proportion of the inhabitants ... that were living') and tense inconsistencies. Punctuation is also weak, particularly missing commas after introductory phrases and run-on structures. Frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader, though the core meaning can usually be deciphered. This performance corresponds to a band score of 5.0.

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