Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrate the information about the population of the urban areas of four different countries of Asia from 1970 to 2020 with the future prediction of next two decades as well.

Overall, Malaysia's population considerably rose from 1970 to 2020 and in the next years the same rise is predicted as well. But on the other hand, as compare to Malaysia Philippines' residents percentage fluctuated and will get some rise in next two decades.

In 1970, highest number for residents lived in urban areas was Philippines along with Malaysia had same 30 percentage but Malaysia's proportion continuously fell up till 2020 and in next years it will be constantly grow up to 80 or more. But Philippines' percentage fell down from 2000 to 2010 and may be some increase in 2030 and 2040.

Thailand and Indonesia had just below 20 percent of their individuals in the urban areas. However, Indonesia left Thailand far behind as their proportion will reach up to 55 percent till 2030 and 2040 and Thailand had some rise in the last decades of 20th century but it didn't grow much in early decades of 21st century but there will we hope now their urban percentage of individuals will go up.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in Malaysia and the fluctuation in the Philippines, and you include all four countries. However, the overview is incomplete because it omits Indonesia’s strong growth and Thailand’s comparatively gradual increase, both important features. There are also significant inaccuracies: Malaysia did not fall to 2020; it rose from about 30% to 76%. The Philippines was not the highest in 1970, as it was slightly above Malaysia, but the wording that they had the same 30% is inaccurate. Indonesia was projected to reach about 60% by 2030 and 64% by 2040, not 55% across those years. Select the main trends accurately and support them with a few reliable comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, so there is some organisation and the reader can identify the countries being discussed. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph moves between Malaysia and the Philippines, while the final paragraph combines historical trends and forecasts for Thailand and Indonesia in a long, difficult-to-follow sentence. Linking phrases such as “But on the other hand” and “However” do not always clarify the relationship between ideas. Group the information more deliberately—for example, describe Malaysia and Indonesia as the stronger risers, then compare the Philippines and Thailand—and use shorter sentences with clear references to each country.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “proportion” and “predicted,” and the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the intended trend unclear. For example, “Malaysia’s population” suggests total population rather than the share living in cities, and “left Thailand far behind” is too informal and imprecise for describing the data. Phrases such as “their urban percentage of individuals” are also awkward. Use precise terms consistently, such as “the proportion of the population living in cities,” and choose neutral trend language such as “rose sharply,” “increased gradually” or “was projected to reach.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “as” and “however,” but errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. The opening has subject–verb disagreement in “The line graph illustrate,” and “as compare to Malaysia” is not a correctly formed comparison. Verb forms and sentence construction are also problematic in “it will be constantly grow” and “there will we hope now their urban percentage … will go up.” Some sentences run on, particularly the final one, and punctuation does not reliably separate the ideas. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, comparison structures and future forms, then divide long sentences into shorter units.

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