Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-27
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 below illustrates the percentage of residents living in cities in four Asian nations from 1970 to 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040. The graph clearly shows which nation's ratio rises and which nation's ratios fall till the end of the period in 2040.
Overall, the Philippines and Indonesia ratios rise throughout the period, while Malaysia and Thailand fluctuate during the period.
Expenditure of the grpagh shows that, initially, in 1970, the Philippines' ratio is 30%, while at the end of the period to about 2040 it reaches 50%; Malaysia in 1970 has the population level at 30%, and at the end of the period in 2040 it will approach 80%; while Thailand in 1970 has 20% of the population and it will approximately become 45%; and Indonesia has 10% population level in 1970 and it rises up to about 60% till 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 student attempts to cover the main trends in the graph, but there are notable inaccuracies in the overview and data reporting. For instance, the overview incorrectly claims that Malaysia and Thailand fluctuate, when both countries actually show a steady upward trend over the period. Additionally, the word count is 145 words, which falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement. While some data points are mentioned, such as starting and ending percentages, the misinterpretation of overall trends and the negative length penalty limit the score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response is structured into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the logical progression is hindered by inaccurate trend summaries and a lack of clear separation for body details. Cohesive devices are basic and repetitive, such as 'while', 'and', and 'at the end of the period'. Paragraphing is also poorly handled, with the main body compressed into a single, dense, run-on sentence that makes following the comparisons difficult.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, relying heavily on words like 'percentage', 'population', 'ratio', and 'period'. There are awkward lexical choices and typos, such as 'Expenditure of the grpagh' instead of 'Examination of the graph'. While the student attempts to use some task-specific terminology, the lack of a varied range of less common lexical items and recurring inaccuracies restrict the score to a band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple and over-extended complex sentences connected by coordinating conjunctions. There are noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'the Philippines' ratio is 30%' and 'Malaysia in 1970 has the population level at 30%'. Punctuation is also weak, particularly the long run-on sentence in the final paragraph which contains multiple clauses without proper demarcation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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