Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-26

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 significantly describes the proportion of population in four different Asian countries, which living in city area in the year 1970 and 2020 respectively. While, the chart also enumerates the percentage of people projected to be in 2030 and 2040 by predictions.

Overall, it is clear that lowest number of population living in Indonesia in 1970 was 10%, which gradually increased and projected to be 60% in 2040. Moreover, highest proportion of people were living in Malaysia by 30% in 1970 and dramatically going to increase by 80% in 2040.

Further analysis of chart illustrates, around 19% of population was accounted in 1970 which was gradually increasing and resulted into projection around 45% in 2040 in the cities of Thailand respectively.

By observing more, 31% of population was convicted in 1970 which rose to near 50% in 1990. Then, it gradually fell to 40% in 2010. Following to the projection of 52% approximately in 2040 in the country named Philippines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main features of the chart, mentioning data for all four countries across the given time period. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the reported data. For example, the student states that Indonesia's population in 1970 was 10% (actual: 14%) and that Malaysia's starting point was 30% in 1970 and would 'dramatically going to increase by 80% in 2040' (actual: 83.5%). Furthermore, some trends are misread or confusingly phrased, such as the mention that 31% of the population was 'convicted' in 1970 for the Philippines. While an overview is attempted, the selection and reporting of data lack accuracy, leading to a partial fulfillment of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is organized into distinct paragraphs, each generally attempting to focus on different aspects of the graph. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions, such as 'While, the chart also...' and 'By observing more, 31%...'. Cohesive devices are either missing or used inaccurately, and referencing between sentences is occasionally unclear. Paragraphing is present, but overall the structure feels mechanical and fails to guide the reader smoothly through the comparative data.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The student demonstrates a limited and basic vocabulary range with noticeable errors in word choice and collocation. For instance, the use of 'convicted' instead of 'counted' or 'recorded' severely impacts meaning. Other unnatural phrasings include 'significantly describes' and 'dramatically going to increase'. While the student attempts some topic-related vocabulary like 'proportion' and 'percentage', lexical inaccuracies frequently cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures with frequent errors that often impede comprehension. Examples of faulty structures and tense errors include 'which living in city area', 'lowest number of population living in Indonesia in 1970 was 10%, which gradually increased and projected to be', and 'around 19% of population was accounted in 1970 which was gradually increasing and resulted into projection'. Frequent errors in verb forms, prepositions, and voice prevent the majority of sentences from being error-free.

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