Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-02
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 5.5)
The line graph shows the percentage of populations living in cities in four Asian countries. The countries are Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The time period is from 1970 to 2040. The informations after 2000 are predictions.
In 1970, the percentage of urban population in Philippines was about 31%. It went up to around 47% in 1990. And then it will increase to about 65% in 2040. For Malaysia, the percentage was 27% in 1970. Then it increased fast to 58% in 2000. After that, it will go up continuously to 73% in 2040.
Thailand had the lowest percentage in 1970, which was 15%. It rised up slowly to 30% in 2000. In 2040, it is expected to be 47%. Indonesia started at 18% in 1970 and increased to 40% in 2O00. The projection for 2040 is 60%.
0verall, all four countries have an upward trend. The proportion of city population will continue to grow in the future for these countries. Malaysia will have the highest number in 2040, while thailand will be the lowest
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by providing an overview and selecting main features from the visual data, but some parts are developed more fully than others. You successfully highlighted general upward trends and made relevant comparisons, such as noting that Malaysia will have the highest figure and Thailand the lowest by 2040. However, some of the data points reported do not closely match the visual reference, such as the figures for the Philippines and Thailand in 1970 and 2040. To reach a higher band, ensure that data extraction is more accurate and that all selected trends are fully supported by precise figures from the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure separating the introduction, body paragraphs, and the overall summary. Ideas are generally grouped logically by country and time period. However, cohesion at times feels a bit mechanical, and referencing between sentences could be smoother. For example, expressions like 'And then it will increase' rely on repetitive transition patterns. To progress further, incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure seamless transitions between past trends and future predictions without abrupt shifts in tone or structure.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
An adequate range of vocabulary is used to accomplish the task, featuring standard reporting terms such as 'percentage', 'population', 'increase', and 'trend'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though this is sometimes accompanied by minor inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing, such as 'informations' (which should be uncountable) and 'rised up' (misuse of the verb form). Spelling and word-choice errors do not impede overall communication. To achieve a higher band, aim for greater precision in vocabulary and integrate more sophisticated lexical items or collocations related to data trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response exhibits a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, demonstrating basic control over sentence structures. However, there are notable grammatical errors and tense inconsistencies, particularly when shifting between past data and future projections, such as 'And then it will increase' referring to past years like 1990. Errors also appear in pluralisation and prepositions. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall message, but they occur with some frequency. To reach the next band, you need to increase the proportion of error-free sentences and exercise better control over complex grammatical structures and tense consistency.
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