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 given chart illustrates the percentage of population in four countries of Asia from 1970 to 2020.
We see Indonesian population started to increase from 12 percent to 62 from 1970 tp 2040.In Thailand the ratio of population increase was from 18 percent in 1970 to 58 percent in 2038.In Malaysia the percentage of population increase was from 30 to 80 percent from 1970 to 2040.The population of Philippines started to increase from 32 percent to 48 percent in 1988with decline to 41 percent in 2010 ,with again increase in ratio to about 51 percent in 2040.
The chart depicts the rise and fall in percentage of population in different years starting from 1970 to 2040 .In Philippines and Thailand,there comes decline in ratio in middle but in Malaysia and Indonesia the percentage of population started to grow with no decline.This is overall situation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response attempts to summarize the data from the chart regarding the percentage of the urban population in four Asian countries. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data transcription and reporting (for example, stating Indonesia increased from 12 to 62 percent, whereas the chart starts at 14 and goes to 64; and various other data points are misread or distorted). Furthermore, the word count is 144 words, which fails to meet the minimum requirement of 150 words, resulting in a penalty under Task Achievement. An overview is attempted at the end, but the overall development and selection of main features are limited and inaccurate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks clear paragraphing, grouping all body sentences into a single block followed by a brief concluding sentence. Cohesive devices are minimal and repetitive (e.g., repetitive use of 'started to increase from ... to'). While there is a basic chronological arrangement of data points for each country, the progression is disjointed and lacks sophisticated organizational structure. Referencing and logical transitions between the individual country descriptions are weak, making the overall flow mechanical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, heavily relying on words like 'percentage', 'population', 'increase', and 'ratio'. There are awkward lexical choices and phrasing, such as 'the ratio of population increase was' and 'there comes decline in ratio'. The range of vocabulary is limited to simple descriptions of numerical change, lacking the flexibility and precision needed for higher bands. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lack of varied or less-common lexical items restricts the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are numerous mechanical errors, such as missing spaces after periods (e.g., '2040.In Thailand', '1988with decline'), missing articles, and awkward prepositional phrasing. Complex structures are often faulty or unnatural, although basic meaning usually remains understandable despite the errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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