Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-22

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 6.5)

The graph illustrates the information about the percentage of the population in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia living in cities between 1970 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia is projected to have the highest proportion of urban residents throughout most of the period, while Indonesia is expected to experienced the most significant growth. By contrast, the figures for the Philippines fluctuates, whereas Thailand shows a relatively gradual increase.

In 1970, around 30% of the population in Malaysia and the Philippines lived in the cities. Malaysia then rose steadily, reaching approximately 60% in 2000 and 70% in 2010. It is forecast to continue increasing to about 85% in 2040. Indonesia, meanwhile, started at only 15% in 1970. After relatively slow growth until 2000, its urban population is predicted to rise about 65% in 2040.

The Philippines followed a different pattern. Its figure increased from about 32% in 1970 to 49% in 1990, before declining to approximately 43% in 2010. Similarly, it is expected to recover gradually, reaching around 57% by 2040. Thailand had the lowest proportion in 1970, then rise from 18% in 1990 to 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main trends and making relevant comparisons across the four countries. An overview is provided, correctly identifying Malaysia's dominance, Indonesia's significant growth, and the differing patterns in the Philippines and Thailand. Key data points are cited accurately from the visual data, such as Malaysia's starting point of around 30% and its projected rise to 85% in 2040. Minor inaccuracies in specific figures (e.g., stating Thailand rose from 18% in 1990 instead of 1970) are minor and do not detract from the overall quality of data reporting. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped effectively, with an introductory paragraph, an overview paragraph, and separate body paragraphs detailing the specific country trends. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'similarly' are used appropriately to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used skillfully, and referencing is mostly clear, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are easy to follow. The progression from 1970 to 2040 is maintained consistently across the text, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student displays a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, utilizing terms such as 'proportion', 'projected', 'forecast', and 'gradual increase'. Less common vocabulary items are attempted, such as 'fluctuates' and 'substantially'. However, there are a few lexical and grammatical collocation errors, such as 'expected to experienced' and 'then rise', which slightly lower the score. Despite these occasional inaccuracies in word form, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses, participial phrases, and future predictions ('is projected to have', 'is expected to recover'). There are several noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'the percentage of the population in Philippines' (missing article), 'is expected to experienced', and 'then rise' (incorrect tense consistency with past events). While these errors occur, they do not impede communication, and the overall structure remains coherent. This balance of complex structures and persistent minor errors fits comfortably within Band 6.

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