Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph shows percentage of urban population in four different asian countries from 1970 to 2020 with forecast for 2030 to 2040

Overall, All four countries show increase in population over the period of year, with dip in philippines at year 2010. Forecast of the Malaysia is the highest growth by 2030 and 2040

Malaysia which is highest growth rate as compare to other countries. Started with total of only 30% in 1970 and increase significantly with forecast showing near 80% increase by 2040, followed by second most growth country is indonesia with population rise to 60% by 2030 and 2040, overtaking thailand and philippines. However, it was having lowest proportional with just above 10% poplation in 1970

In 1970 philippines was having 30% of total population which rise to near 50% in 1990 and then dip to 40% in 2010 and by 2030 and 2040 population increase to 60%, Finally thailand which was having roughtly 20% in 1970 show countinues raise to the end of period with forecast above 40% by 2040

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a relevant overview, identifying the general upward movement and the Philippines’ mid-period decline, and you compare Malaysia with the other countries. Several key figures and trends are broadly accurate, including Malaysia’s rise from about 30% and Indonesia’s growth from the lowest starting point. However, some details are misreported: Malaysia is projected to reach about 84%, not “near 80%,” in 2040; Indonesia is already around 52% in 2020 and reaches about 64% in 2040, rather than 60% in both forecast years. The Philippines is about 45% in 2010 and 56% in 2040, not 40% and 60%. The overview also calls Malaysia’s growth the highest, though Indonesia has the steepest overall rise. More precise comparisons would strengthen an otherwise relevant response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the countries. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. You also use basic linking expressions such as “Overall,” “followed by,” “However,” and “Finally.” At times, though, the progression is less clear because comparisons and individual country details are mixed together, and some references are ambiguous—for example, “it was having lowest proportional” does not clearly identify Indonesia. The overview’s claim about Malaysia’s “highest growth” is also difficult to reconcile with the later country-by-country account. Grouping the strongest and weakest trends, then reporting each country’s key stages in a consistent order, would make the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “forecast,” “overtaking,” “dip,” and “population,” and the reader can generally understand the trends you describe. However, the range and control are uneven: phrases such as “highest growth rate as compare to,” “total of only 30%,” and “lowest proportional” are awkward or imprecise for describing percentages. Repetition of “population” and “increase” also limits flexibility. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “poplation,” “roughtly,” and “countinues,” as well as inconsistent capitalisation of country names. Aim for accurate collocations such as “urban share,” “rose to,” and “the proportion of the population,” and check spelling and country-name capitalisation carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a contrast with “However” and a sequence of changes over time. Nevertheless, grammatical control is limited, and errors occur in many sentences. Examples include missing articles in “shows percentage,” incorrect agreement or verb forms in “which rise” and “show countinues raise,” and the incomplete construction “Malaysia which is highest growth rate.” The opening also lacks a full stop, while several long sentences join multiple ideas without clear punctuation. These errors sometimes make relationships between figures and countries harder to follow. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent past-tense forms for historical data and “is projected to” for forecasts.

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