Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-20
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 information about the percentage of the population in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020, and also predictions for 2030 and 2040. Overall, Malaysia is predicted to be highly populated in the future, whilst Thailand will be the least populated country. However, the Philippines consisted of the largest inhabitants in the 90s, whereas Indonesia experienced an upward trend throughout the period.In 1970, the population in Malaysia was only 30 percent. However, this value increased to 42% in 1980, experiencing a slight decrease in 1990. Afterwards, it increased to 78% in 2020 and is predicted to be the highest populated (80%) by 2040. The Philippines in 1970 was the highest populated, standing at 32%; at the same time, it fluctuated and experienced an upward trend reaching 48% before falling to 45% in 2010. In Thailand, the population just started at 19%, increased to 29% in 1990, crossing paths with Indonesia at just below 30% in 2000. Afterwards, it reached 30% in 2020 and is expected to increase by 2040 (45%). Furthermore, the population of Indonesia was the least populated, standing at just 15%, but it is expected to experience a dramatic increase to just below 60% in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four countries. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting Malaysia's future dominance and Indonesia's upward trend. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting specific data points compared to the ground truth. For instance, the student states that Malaysia's population in 1980 was 42% (actually around 40.5%) and that Malaysia reached 78% in 2020 (actually 76%). Furthermore, the graph depicts the percentage of the population living in cities, but the student occasionally confuses this by referring to the countries as being 'populated' rather than 'urbanized'. Despite these minor data inaccuracies and phrasing issues, the overall selection of features and trends is clear and satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical structure, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing the data. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Afterwards', and 'Furthermore' are used to connect ideas, though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is utilized, but the division is slightly awkward, as the second paragraph combines the overview with detailed data points for Malaysia and the Philippines. Referencing is generally clear, but the progression from sentence to sentence could be smoother to achieve higher band levels. Overall, the organization is clear enough to earn a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'upward trend', 'dramatic increase', and 'crossing paths'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies, most notably confusing general population size with the percentage of urban population (e.g., writing 'Malaysia is predicted to be highly populated' instead of 'highly urbanized', and referring to 'largest inhabitants'). There are also minor awkward collocations. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas clearly, placing the response firmly at a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including time clauses and comparative structures (e.g., 'whilst Thailand will be the least populated country' and 'reaching 48% before falling to 45% in 2010'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'the Philippines consisted of the largest inhabitants' and 'the population just started at 19%'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are present, they do not impede communication. This performance aligns well with the descriptors for Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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