Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-29

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)

This graph shows the percentage of the population living in cities of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 and also pridicted for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, there are percentages of population which is living in cities of four coumtries which is increasing rapidly from 1970 to 2020 and with predictions for 2030 and 2040 there is also a major increase in popoulation.

In 1970 the population of Malaysia and Philippines is at the same stage whose percentage is almost 30 and in 2020 Philippines can increase only 12% and reaches to 42% but Malaysia has a great change and its percentage grew fastly and it hits the point 75. The prediction shows that Malasia can reached above 80% and Philippines can reaches at the 52%.

In the case of Indonesia and Thailand there pecentage starts from 13 and 18 percent and Indonesia reched to 55% in 2040 and the Thailand can also blow up and reached to 45% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to cover the main trends from the chart, mentioning the overall upward trajectory and referencing specific countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, the writer claims that in 1970 the population of Malaysia and the Philippines 'is at the same stage whose percentage is almost 30', whereas the chart shows them at 30% and 32% (close, but followed by imprecise tracking later). More severely, the text states 'Philippines can increase only 12% and reaches to 42%', which misreads the 2020 figure (45.5%). Furthermore, important comparative features are missed or awkwardly expressed, placing this response at Band 5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is structured with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is hindered by poor cohesive ties and repetitive phrasing (e.g., repeating 'living in cities of four countries' and 'with predictions for 2030 and 2040'). Referencing is frequently unclear, and cohesive devices are inadequate or inaccurate. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences feels mechanical and disjointed, limiting the overall flow and earning a Band 5 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and repetitive. Words such as 'percentage', 'population', and 'reached' are used excessively throughout the text. There are also multiple spelling and word-form errors, such as 'pridicted' instead of predicted, 'coumtries' instead of countries, 'popoulation' instead of population, 'pecentage' instead of percentage, and 'Malasia' instead of Malaysia. Furthermore, inappropriate lexical choices like 'blow up' are used instead of a formal academic verb such as 'surge' or 'grow significantly'. This lexical control sits firmly at Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control is weak. There are frequent tense inconsistencies and basic agreement errors, such as 'the population of Malaysia and Philippines is at the same stage' (should be plural 'are'), 'Philippines can increase' (tense/modal misuse), and 'there pecentage starts'. Punctuation is basic, and run-on structures occur without adequate control. While meaning is generally communicated despite the errors, the frequency of grammatical slips keeps the response at a Band 5.

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