Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-06

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 provided line graph represents the percentage of the population living in cities from 1970 to 2020 and also predicts about 2030 and 2040 in four Asian countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Overall, all the four countries showed a rise of population in cities. Urban population in Malaysia and Indonesia increased significantly. Whilst the Philippines had fluctuations.

In 1970, 30% of population in Malaysia lived in cities. Over a decade, this proportion increased by almost 10%. By contrast, in the next 10 years, cities population rose by around 5%. From 1990 to 2020, it increased gradually and became almost 75%. The graph forecasts that this proportion will increase by almost 20% in the next 20 years, making it the most urbanized country. The Philippines is the second country with most of its population living in cities. In 1970, only 15% of its population lived in cities. This proportion increased over time and became almost 50% over the period of 50 years. In the next 20 years, it will rise further as per the chart.

Thailand was the top in the list with 31% of the total population in the cities. For the next 20 years, it increased to around 50%. However, then it showed a decline in its urban population. Graph predicts a rise in its proportions.Indonesian cities accounted for 19% of the total population in 1970. It increased to almost 30% over the next 20 years. It had some fluctuations but it will increase to almost 45% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task only partially, presenting some key features while containing notable inaccuracies in reading the data from the graph. For instance, the student states that the Philippines in 1970 had 'only 15% of its population lived in cities', whereas the chart shows the figure was actually 32%. Similarly, the data for Thailand and Indonesia are confused or misreported in several places. While an overview is attempted, some parts of the response are under-developed or factually misaligned with the source material, which restricts the overall development of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation with an attempt at an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, but the response lacks a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is used, but the internal structuring of information feels disjointed, particularly in the body paragraphs where country data is mixed and sometimes contradictory. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or inadequately, and referencing between sentences is not always clear, leading to occasional confusion for the reader when navigating the trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, providing a minimally sufficient range to describe general trends and percentages. The student attempts less common vocabulary such as 'urbanized', 'fluctuations', and 'proportion', but there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and data interpretation, such as confusing 'cities population' with total population figures. Spelling and word formation are generally clear enough not to impede overall communication, though the limitations in precision and range keep this criterion at a moderate level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The text displays a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with occasional attempts at complex forms that are sometimes faulty. There are frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'predicts about 2030' instead of 'predicts figures for 2030', and awkward phrasings like 'Thailand was the top in the list'. These frequent errors require the reader to occasionally pause, though they do not completely obscure the intended meaning.

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