Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-23
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 illustrated the information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries in cities from 1970 to 2020, with a prediction for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, Malaysia has the highest ratio of population and slightly goes while other cities' populations remain almost up and down.
Firstly, the percentage of Malaysia was 30 in 1970 and slightly higher, up to 70%, and in the future, these are increased up to 80% in 2030 and 2040. However, the Philippines represents the hovered movement, which is 30% to 40% from 1970 to 2020 and predicts up to 50% in 2030 and 2040.
Secondly, Thailand represents the lowest value of population in 1970, which was 20%, and significantly rose up to 30% in 2020 and 40% in the future years. Furthermore, Indonesia has a population of 15 to 30 percent from 1970 to 2020, and sharply increasing up to 40% in 2030 and 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response attempts to cover the main trends from the graph comparing the percentage of urban populations in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2040. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, the student states that Malaysia's percentage was '30 in 1970 and slightly higher, up to 70%', whereas Malaysia actually reached 76% in 2020. Similarly, Thailand's starting point is misstated as 20% (it was 18%) and Indonesia's figures contain inaccuracies. Furthermore, the overview is extremely brief and vague ('while other cities' populations remain almost up and down'), failing to effectively highlight the overall upward trends across all nations. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed due to data misinterpretation and under-developed comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is organised into rudimentary paragraphs using basic sequencing markers such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly'. However, the overall progression is weak. The introduction is poorly constructed ('The graph illustrated...'), and cohesive devices are used mechanically or inaccurately, such as 'However, the Philippines represents the hovered movement' and 'furthermore', which do not logically connect the contrasting ideas. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of precise logical links hinders the flow of information, making the text disjointed in places.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic vocabulary and numbers to describe trends, using awkward collocations and inappropriate word choices such as 'hovered movement' to describe a fluctuating trend, or 'slightly goes' and 'these are increased'. There are noticeable errors in word choice ('ratio of population' instead of 'percentage of urban population') which cause some confusion. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the vocabulary lacks the precision required for Task 1 reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions. Attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty or incomplete, such as 'The graph illustrated the information... with a prediction' mixing tenses incorrectly, or 'while other cities' populations remain almost up and down'. Errors in tense usage, prepositions, and verb forms are frequent throughout the response (e.g., 'these are increased up to', 'predicts up to'), which can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader.
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