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 illustrates that the percentage of people in the cities of Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia between 1970 to 2020, with the pecentage of population predication from 2030 to 2040 years.

Overall, the city population of these countries has increased over the years and also expecting, people will be increased followed 20 years. Malaysia and Indonesia cities's people increased all years while Malaysia and Thailand people increasing showed some fluctuations.

Malaysia population increased in the cities around 10% between 1970 to 1980. There was experienced a steady increase in the following 10 years, with around 5%. Then it was significantly increased above 70% in last 30 years and predicting 80% above following 40 years. The city population of Indonesia was around 15% in 1970 and follow the similar trends of Philippines and expected to be around 60% in 2040.

The city's population of Philippines increase around 50% in 1990 year, before falling into around 40% in 2010. Then it increased again and expected to be above 50% in 2040. Thailand city's population has incresed over the time and sometime remained unchanged in 2 decades and remained around 30% in 2020 and it will be expected the city population will rose significantly around 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to address the prompt by summarising the main features of the line graph for the four countries. However, there are significant issues with data accuracy and interpretation. For instance, the text claims that the city population of the Philippines 'increase around 50% in 1990 year, before falling into around 40% in 2010', whereas the graph shows it reached 48% in 1990 and declined to 42.5% in 2010. Furthermore, the overview is somewhat confused, incorrectly stating that Malaysia and Indonesia's city populations increased in all years without qualification, and mixing up trends. While the response does cover the main countries and time frames, the misreading of data and weak overview restrict it to Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is divided into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and subsequent body paragraphs detailing specific country data. However, overall progression is hindered by awkward transitions and confusing referencing, such as 'while Malaysia and Thailand people increasing showed some fluctuations' in the overview. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or incorrectly, for example, 'Then it was significantly increased... and predicting 80% above following 40 years.' Paragraphing is present, but the internal logical links within sentences often break down, making the flow disjointed. This level of organisation aligns with Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increase', 'population', and 'cities'. There are numerous word choice and collocation errors, such as 'pecentage of population predication', 'city population of these countries', and 'falling into around 40%'. Forms of words are frequently confused, as seen in 'people increasing showed some fluctuations' and 'it will be expected the city population will rose'. These errors occasionally cause strain for the reader. Vocabulary control sits firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but many attempts at complex forms are faulty. Examples of grammatical errors include missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and tense confusion, such as 'also expecting, people will be increased followed 20 years' and 'Malaysia population increased in the cities around 10% between 1970 to 1980.' Passive and active voice are mixed up awkwardly, as in 'it will be expected the city population will rose significantly'. Frequent grammatical errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader, resulting in a Band 5.0.

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