Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-04
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 line chart shows the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 to 2040.
Overall, the percentage of people who are living in cities in 1970 was not as high as in 2020. There were only 15% people living in cities in Indonesia in 1970, but in 2020 these numbers went to 50% and it will go to 60% in 2030 and 65% in 2040. In Thailand there are less then 20% people who live in cities in 1970 but it rose to 30% in 2020 and it will go to 40% in 2030 and 40% in 2040. In Malaysia the people who was live in cities in 1970 are 30% but it goes to 80% in 2020 and in 2030 it will increase to 85% and in 2040 it will increased to 90%. In the Philippines, there are more then 30% who lived in cities in 1970 and it increased to 40% in 2020 and then it will increase to 45% in 2030 and 50% in 2040.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses the task partially. While the student attempts to summarise the main trends for all four countries, the selection of data contains inaccuracies and lacks a well-crafted overview. For instance, the statement that the percentage of people living in cities in 1970 was not as high as in 2020 is a basic observation rather than a true overarching summary of the graph's main patterns. Furthermore, some data points are misreported or vague, such as stating that in Thailand 'it will go to 40% in 2030 and 40% in 2040', which overlooks the actual upward trajectory shown in the data. To reach a higher band, the response needs a clearer overview identifying the overall growth across all nations and a more precise, well-supported selection of key comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The writing demonstrates some organisation, but it lacks clear overall progression. The response is compressed into an introduction followed by one massive block of text containing all the body details, lacking proper paragraphing to separate different countries or time periods. Cohesive devices are minimal, mechanical, and repetitive, relying heavily on simple additive transitions such as 'and it will go to...' and 'and then it will...'. Pronoun referencing and signposting are also weak, making the flow of ideas repetitive rather than progressively structured. To improve, the student should divide the response into logical paragraphs and employ a wider, more natural variety of cohesive links to guide the reader through the data comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student relies heavily on basic, repetitive terms and phrases, such as 'percentage of people', 'living in cities', 'went to', and 'will go to'. There are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, including 'less then 20%' and 'the people who was live in cities', which stem from word form and collocation limitations rather than grammar rules. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the lack of flexibility and precision restricts the range of expression. To achieve a higher band, the student must incorporate a broader selection of less common lexical items and precise synonyms related to urbanisation and statistical trends, such as 'proportion', 'urban dwellers', 'surge', or 'plateau'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a limited range of grammatical structures, relying primarily on simple sentences and repetitive compound structures connected by 'and'. Attempts at complex structures or future predictions often feature faulty verb tenses and agreement errors, such as 'the people who was live in cities' and 'it will increased'. There are frequent errors in prepositions and determiners within grammatical patterns, including 'more then 30%' instead of 'more than'. While these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning, they cause noticeable difficulty and distraction for the reader. To improve, the student needs to practice forming accurate complex sentences with reliable tense consistency, especially when shifting between past data and future projections.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.