Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-03

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 about the ratio of the population of cities in four countries of Asia between 1970 and 2020 and also the chances for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is clear that maximum population found in Malaysia that increase steb by step from 1990 to 2020 and also predicted to increase in 2040 while its percentage decrease from 1980 to 1990.

From 1970 to 2000, Indonesia people ratio increased slightly than it has dramatticaly moves upward. After that, their population percentage raised slowly. Thiland residence ration increased step by step between 1970 and 1990 while it remained stable untill 2000. Phillipines shown very slight raise trend in their residency ratio untill 1980 than it abruptly increase from 1980 to 1990. After that, it decreased in 2000. Malaysia percentage increased from 1970 to 1980, than it decreased. After that, its ratio abruptly increased untill 2000.

Between 2000 and 2020, Indonesia shown dramaticaly raising trend in their percentage untill 2020. Thiland remained stable in these years. Malaysia abruptly increased their population. Philipines percentage decreased untill 2010 than it shown raise trend.

fROM 2030 TO 2040, all countries population will be increased.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response addresses the task only partially, presenting some selected information about the four countries from 1970 to 2040, but the overview is flawed and key data points contain inaccuracies. For instance, the writer claims that Malaysia's percentage decreased from 1980 to 1990, whereas the graph clearly shows a continuous upward trend. Furthermore, the selection of data lacks a clear strategy, leading to repetitive descriptions of trends across different time periods. While some main features are touched upon, the lack of accurate data reporting and the absence of a well-developed, clear overview keep this response at a lower band level. To improve, the writer must ensure that trends are read correctly from the visual data and supported by a cohesive, overarching summary of the main changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation in the response, with paragraphs loosely grouping information by country and time period, but overall progression is lacking. The introduction and body paragraphs jump between countries and decades without a clear logical flow, making the progression difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are used very mechanically or are entirely missing between sentences, leading to a disjointed reading experience. For example, transitions like 'After that' are overused, and referencing is sometimes unclear, such as shifting abruptly between singular and plural pronouns ('Indonesia people ratio increased... their population'). To move to the next level, the writer needs to group related data more logically, establish a clearer structure, and employ a wider, more natural variety of cohesive links to guide the reader smoothly through the comparison of trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to trends, such as 'dramaticaly', 'abruptly', and 'raising trend', but these are marred by frequent spelling and word-form errors (e.g., 'dramatticaly', 'steb by step', 'Phillipines', 'Thiland'). Furthermore, there are awkward collocations and imprecise word choices, such as 'ratio of the population of cities' instead of 'urban population percentage' or 'percentage of the population living in cities'. These noticeable errors cause some difficulty for the reader and impede precise communication. To achieve a higher band, the writer should expand their repertoire of academic vocabulary, focus on correct word forms and spelling, and use precise collocations to describe statistical trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent attempts at complex or past/future tense forms that are heavily flawed. There are persistent grammatical errors throughout the text, including tense inconsistencies, missing prepositions, and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'maximum population found in Malaysia that increase steb by step', 'countries population will be increased', 'Phillipines shown very slight raise trend'). Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent. These frequent errors cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To reach a higher band, the writer must focus on mastering basic sentence structures, ensuring accurate verb tense consistency when describing past data and future projections, and reducing the frequency of foundational grammatical errors.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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