Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-05
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 7.0)
The line graph illustrates the percentage population in Malaysia, Indonesia,Thailand and Philippines that live in cities between 1970 and 2020. It also provides predicted figures for 2030 and 2040.
In 1970, the Philippines along with Malaysia accounted for the higest proportion of individuals residing in cities. By 2020, Malyasia ranked the highest followed by Indonesia. This trend was maintained in the predictions made for the next two decades as well.
In 1970, the Phillipines along with Malaysia consisted of the highest proportion living in cities at around 30% each. The figures for Phillipines fluctuated between 30% and 50% between 1970 and 1990. After which, there was a decline to around 45% by 2020. In contrast, Malaysia showed a significant growth, reaching 75% by 2020. Indonesia grew from less than 15% in 1970 to around 50% by 2020, overtaking the Phillipines in the year 2010. Thailand grew from a little over 15% in 1970 to just 30% by 2020.
The projections made for the following decades indicte that Malaysia (85%) followed by Indonesia (just over 60%) would continue to rank the highest, while Thailand ranked the least (close to 50%). By 2040, the gap between Malaysia and Indonesia would reduce by 5% from 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and reporting the main features of urbanisation across the four countries. A clear position and progression are established throughout. The writer selects appropriate data to make relevant comparisons, such as contrasting Malaysia's rapid growth with the Philippines' fluctuations, and noting Indonesia overtaking the Philippines in 2010. While ideas are generally well extended and supported, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise or misread minor data points (for example, stating the Philippines fluctuated between 30% and 50% when it peaked at 48% in 1990, and slight inaccuracies regarding final 2040 figures). These minor slips prevent the response from achieving a higher band, yet it fully satisfies the requirements for the current level by covering all required nations and timeline brackets.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with an introductory paragraph, an overview of trends, body paragraphs detailing specific country data, and a concluding look at future projections. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'In contrast' and 'By 2020', which helps guide the reader through the data. However, referencing and cohesion are occasionally slightly mechanical or repetitive in structure. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, maintaining a clear overall arrangement. To reach the next band, the integration of cohesive devices could be made more fluid and seamless, avoiding minor repetition in transitional phrases between sentences.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', 'projections', and 'indicte' (which contains a spelling error). There is a sufficient range for some flexibility and precision, allowing the writer to describe trends accurately. However, there are a few spelling and word-choice errors that persist, such as 'higest', 'Malyasia', and 'Phillipines', alongside minor collocation slips. These errors do not impede communication, but they reflect the ceiling of the current band. To achieve a higher band, the student should eliminate spelling mistakes in key country names and vocabulary, and incorporate a wider variety of sophisticated phrasing with greater precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation, utilising a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Examples of complex structures include subordinate clauses like 'while Thailand ranked the least' and 'As the projections made for the following decades indicate'. There are some minor errors persistent in the text, such as article usage and prepositional choices, but these do not impede communication. The control over verb tenses—shifting between past data and future predictions—is handled well overall. To move further up, the writer would need to maintain a consistently wider range of more sophisticated complex structures with absolute freedom from minor grammatical slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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