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 show the percentage of the population in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia living in cities from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, All four cities continues to grow to the end of the period. Malaysia and Indonesia shows highest percentage of population as compare to other two cities

In 1970 Malaysia was around 30% of total population which show a slight increase with just above 40% in 1990 and then continues to grow, prediction for 2030 and 2040 will be grow above 80%, followed by Indonesia, which was lowest of all cities in 1970 with just above 10%, and continues to increase to above 40% at 2020. For 2030 and 2040, growth rate keep climbing roughtly to 60% by 2040

Population of Philippines was just above 30% which was highest as compare to other cities in 1970, It fluctuate between 1980 to 2010 with near 40%. For 2030 and 2040, city shows rise in percentage of population with 2040 predicted to be around 50%. Thailand was just below 20% in 1970 then it continues to grow with near 30% in 2020 and predeicted to grow

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the countries and time span, and you include an overview that recognises general growth and Malaysia’s high figures. Several relevant comparisons are also attempted: the Philippines starts highest in 1970, while Indonesia rises from the lowest starting point. However, the overview is not fully accurate: Malaysia and Indonesia are not both the highest throughout, and the Philippines and Thailand also rise overall. Some figures and trends are misreported or imprecise; for example, Malaysia is already around 60% in 2000, not just above 40% in 1990 as the sentence suggests, and Indonesia reaches about 52% in 2020. The Thailand account is unfinished, leaving its later trend and forecast unreported. Select the main comparisons more accurately and complete the key features for all four lines.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for groups of countries. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is organised. However, progression is uneven: the Malaysia and Indonesia paragraph combines two long accounts, while the final paragraph ends abruptly after “predicted to grow,” so the comparison is incomplete. Linking is also repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “which” and “and then,” and some references such as “other two cities” are unclear because the graph shows countries, not cities. Organise the details into clearer comparisons, use linking phrases selectively, and ensure each paragraph develops a complete point before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “population,” “increase,” “fluctuate” and “predicted,” so the reader can generally understand the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the description awkward: “cities continues to grow” confuses the population share with the cities themselves, and “growth rate keep climbing” is not a natural way to describe the figures. There are also spelling errors such as “roughtly” and “predeicted.” Aim for precise trend language and accurate forms. For example, describe the proportion as “rose” or “increased,” and use “is forecast to reach” for projected values.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, and the main subject of the report is usually understandable. However, errors occur frequently in basic agreement and verb forms, as in “The line graph show,” “Malaysia and Indonesia shows,” and “continues to grow.” Sentence construction is also sometimes incomplete or difficult to follow; the final clause about Thailand has no completed forecast, and “which show a slight increase” does not fit smoothly into its sentence. Capitalisation is inconsistent, including “Overall, All.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and complete sentence boundaries, then build longer comparisons from correctly formed clauses. These changes would make the information easier to follow.

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