Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30

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 6.0)

The line graph compares the proportions of people lived in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with predications for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentages of the population increased in every country, with highest rising recorded for Malaysia. In addition, the figure for Thailand and Indonesia followed relatively similar pattern, with that for Philippines increasing dramatically in 1990, before declining slightly in 2010. The predicted figures for every country expected to grow until 2040.

In 1970, the percentage of people living in Malaysia and Philippines stood at around 30% each, before rising markedly to just under 50% in both county. By 2020, the figure for Malaysia had growen to approximately 80%, making it the country with largest population and predicted to increase further to just over 80% by 2040. However, the proportion of people living in Philippines fell to about 45% by 2010, before growing gradually to just under 50% in 2020. This figure is predicted to reach around 55% by 2040.

By contrast, the percentages of people in Thailand and Indonesia started at just under 20% each, increasing to about 30% in 2000 each. The figure for Indonesia experienced a dramatic grow when its overtook Thailand and Philippines by 2020 at about 50% to become the second most largest country with people, and it is predicted to grow to about 60% by 2040. Although the figure for Thailand remained at around 30% from 2000 to 2020, its percentage is projected to surge to about 50% by 2040, registering the lowest proportion acrss the other countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting on the main features and making relevant comparisons across the four countries over the given time period. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the main trend of upward growth and highlighting Malaysia as the fastest grower. Key data points are generally accurate, such as Malaysia reaching around 76-80% by 2020 and the Philippines dipping in 2010. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in data interpretation, such as stating that Indonesia overtook the Philippines and Thailand by 2020 to become the 'second most largest country with people' (a slight misuse of phrasing and data comparison). Nevertheless, the response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction, followed by an overview paragraph, and then detailed body paragraphs split by country comparisons. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Overall', 'In addition', 'By contrast', and 'Although'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different parts of the data. However, some referencing and cohesive ties are slightly clunky or mechanical, such as 'with that for Philippines increasing dramatically', which detracts from a smoother flow. Logical organisation is maintained throughout, placing this response comfortably at Band 6.5 to 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'proportions', 'predications' (though misspelled as predictions), 'surging', and 'projected'. There are some noticeable lexical and word-formation errors, such as 'people lived' instead of 'people living', 'county' instead of 'country', 'growen' instead of 'grown', 'grow' instead of 'growth', and 'most largest' (a double superlative). Despite these occasional slips and inaccuracies, communication is not impeded, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the trends accurately, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptors well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and temporal clauses ('before rising markedly', 'making it the country with largest population and predicted to increase...'). There are, however, several grammatical and mechanical errors throughout the text, such as missing articles ('the Philippines' referred to as 'Philippines'), tense inconsistencies, and awkward phrasing ('the percentages of people in Thailand and Indonesia started at just under 20% each, increasing to about 30% in 2000 each'). While these errors occur with some frequency, they do not impede overall communication. The control of grammar corresponds to a Band 6.0.

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