Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of urban inhabitants in four Asian nations(the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia)from 1970 to 2020, with Estimations extending to 2040.

Overall, all four countries are projected to experienced upward trend consistently in urbanization over the entire 70-year timeline. Malaysia steadily maintained the highest percentage of city population for most of the period and is expected to retain this position. Conversely, despite a temporary decline mid period ,the Philippines is forecast to follow a similar trajectory. Indonesia demonstrates the most repaid rate of urban growth among all the countries listed.

Looking at the details, in 1970, the Philippines had the largest urban population at just over 30%, while Malaysia stood at roughly 30%. Over the next fifty years, Malaysia saw substantial growth, surpassing the 70% mark by 2020. Although the Philippines experienced a sharp drop in city dwellers between 1990 and 2010, its numbers picked up again to reach nearly 50% by 2020. By 2040, both nations are predicted to see further growth, with Malaysia peaking at around 85% and the Philippines approaching 65%.Regarding Thailand and Indonesia, both started with very low urbanization levels in 1970 at around 15% and 12% respectively. While Thailand's urban population grew at a slow and steady pace to reach just over 30% in 2020, Indonesia experienced a massive surge, climbing sharply to match the Philippines at approximately 50% in 2020. By 2040, Indonesia's city population is expected to shoot past 60%, whereas Thailand will likely remain the least urbanized country at roughly 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student has successfully covered all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and making relevant comparisons across the four countries. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the overall upward trend, Malaysia's leading position, and Indonesia's rapid growth. Key data points are accurately selected and cited, such as Malaysia reaching 76% in 2020 and Indonesia starting at 14% in 1970 before surging. The response is well-developed, though there are minor inaccuracies in some end projections compared to the source data (e.g., Malaysia approaching 85% instead of 83.5%), but these do not detract from the overall strong performance. The requirements of Task 1 are fully satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped logically, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs that break down the trends effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'Overall', 'Conversely', and 'Looking at the details', guiding the reader smoothly through the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate the overview from the detailed body points. Referencing between sentences and pronouns is generally well-managed, maintaining clarity without noticeable disruption.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, incorporating functional phrases such as 'proportion of urban inhabitants', 'upward trend', and 'trajectory'. Less common items and collocation attempts are visible, including 'surge', 'urbanization levels', and 'rapid rate'. However, there are some minor lexical and capitalization slips, such as the spelling error 'repaid' instead of 'rapid', and incorrect spacing and capitalization around parentheses and punctuation (e.g., 'countries(the', 'mid period ,the'). Despite these occasional flaws, the vocabulary effectively communicates the intended data and trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and participle phrases effectively (e.g., 'While Thailand's urban population grew at a slow and steady pace...'). The majority of sentences are grammatically sound and easy to follow. However, there are a few minor grammatical and mechanical errors, such as the tense slip 'projected to experienced upward trend' instead of 'projected to experience an upward trend', missing articles ('an upward trend'), and punctuation spacing issues. These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, supporting a solid Band 7 level.

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