Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-07

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 chart provides the information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia had largest population in recent years. According to predication Malaysia wil shoot up population over the period. Moreover, The Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines urban population will rise.

In 1970 Indonesia had the minor number of citizen, at 14%of the population but over the period the public will increase and reach 60% by 2040. Moreover, Thailand had 19% population the ups and downs in number of population at the end of the period the individuals will have approximately 45%.

In contrast, In 1970, the figure for the Philippines was 30% while, In 2020 was nearly 40% but over the period and predication the population will going to 50%. Furthermore, Malaysia had below 50% population before 2000 but after the period the public dramatically increased reached on 70%. In future the citizen will improve and reach to 85%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and give a broad overview that Malaysia rises strongly while the other countries also increase. Some figures are relevant, such as Indonesia starting at 14% and Malaysia being below 50% before 2000. However, the account is only partial and several details are inaccurate: the Philippines was about 45.5% in 2020, not nearly 40%, and Thailand is projected to reach about 49.5%, rather than approximately 45%. The overview also misses important comparisons, including Malaysia finishing highest and the Philippines fluctuating before rising again. The response is 144 words, below the required 150, and this limits the development of the main features. Select the key trends accurately and support them with a few well-chosen comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing country figures. This gives the reader some organisation, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Moreover,” and “In contrast” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear. The country information is grouped unevenly, and the final paragraph moves from the Philippines to Malaysia without a clear comparison. Some connectors are repeated or do not express the relationship accurately, while phrases such as “over the period” recur without specifying which period. Organise the details into clear comparisons—for example, the strongest urbanisation trends together, followed by the lower or fluctuating figures—and use referencing and transitions that make those relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “predictions,” “increased,” and “reach,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph. “Largest population” does not clearly mean the highest urban share, while “minor number of citizen,” “the public,” and “the individuals” are unsuitable substitutes for the proportion of people living in cities. “Shoot up population” and “improve” also do not describe the data precisely. Spelling errors such as “predication” and “wil” further reduce control. Use a consistent set of precise terms—such as “urban population,” “proportion,” “figure,” and “rise”—and choose verbs that describe changes in percentages rather than population quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can usually identify the countries and figures being discussed. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently, particularly in longer constructions. Examples include “Malaysia had largest population,” “the population will going to 50%,” and “the ups and downs in number of population at the end of the period,” where articles, verb forms, and sentence structure are not controlled. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “Moreover, The Indonesia” and “In contrast, In 1970.” These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions for historical data and use “is projected to” for forecasts; build longer sentences from a clear subject and verb, then check articles and punctuation.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.