Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-25
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 line graph illustrates the information regarding the percentage of the residents residing in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in specific cities between the years from 1970 to 2020, including prediction for 2030 and 2040.
Overall, in terms of inhabitants living in urban area for Malaysia saw a significant rise along with 2030 and 2040. In addition, inhabitants residing in Thailand were less populated than other countries.
In the year 1970, population of residents living in cities, at Philippines and Malaysia were approximately equal, covering about 30% of total population. By 2030, people residing in Malaysia especially in cities is expected to have a dense population with about 75% of total population, whereas in case of Philippines, the figure is expected to have a slight growth of 45%, contributing in total, by the year 2030.
Moreover, the countries like Thailand and Indonesia had minimal population in the year 1970, covering about 18% and 12% in total population. However, this figure was roughly equal in the year 2000, contributing about 27% of total population. In contrast, Thailand residents is expected to have about 35% in total coverage by the year 2030, which is lowest among four asian countries. Similarly, more resident in Indonesia is expected to be attracted with the figure covering almost 50% of population by 2030.
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 student attempts to address the prompt by summarising the main features of urbanisation across the four countries from 1970 to 2040. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, noting Malaysia's significant rise and Thailand's lower population figures, though it lacks clarity and precision regarding the overall trends. While some data points are reported, there are several inaccuracies when compared against the visual data; for instance, Indonesia's 1970 population is stated as 12% (actual is around 14%), and the projections for 2030 contain confused percentages and phrasing. Furthermore, the description sometimes misses the overarching trajectory of rapid growth in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia in favour of somewhat disjointed individual figures. Consequently, the task is only partially satisfied.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text is organized into four paragraphs, following a traditional introduction, overview, and body paragraph structure. However, the progression within and between paragraphs is often disjointed. Cohesive devices are attempted (e.g., 'Overall', 'In addition', 'However', 'In contrast'), but they are sometimes used mechanically or illogically, hindering smooth transitions of thought. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'inhabitants living in urban area for Malaysia saw a significant rise', which awkwardly attributes the rise to the inhabitants rather than the percentage. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion requires better management to guide the reader seamlessly through the data comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student displays an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully employing terms related to demographics and urbanisation, such as 'percentage', 'population', 'residents', 'urban area', and 'projections'. However, there are notable limitations and awkward collocations, such as 'residents residing', 'dense population with about 75%', and 'minimal population'. Word choices occasionally cause confusion, as seen with 'contributing in total' and 'lowest among four asian countries'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but lexical control lacks precision and flexibility, leading to unnatural phrasing that impacts the overall clarity of the descriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like relative clauses ('people residing in Malaysia especially in cities is expected...') and comparative forms. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Thailand residents is expected', 'more resident... is expected'), preposition misuse ('in Philippines' instead of 'in the Philippines'), and awkward modifier placements. Punctuation is generally functional, but structural flaws and awkward phrasing occasionally impede communication and reduce the overall readability of the essay.
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