Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given line graph provides data about the percentage of population in four Asian states residing in urban areas between 1970 and 2020 and it also predicts the increase in next two decades.

Overall, the cities of Malaysia remained highly populated in all given years that are predicted over 80% in 2040. However, less number of people lived in cities in Thailand during whole period.

Starting with Malaysia, about 30% of population lived in cities in 1970 and it reached over 70% in 2020 and it is assumed to exceed 80% in 2040. However, Indonesia had less population of around 12% in 1970 and it gradually increased to an average of 53% in 2020 and over 60% in 2030. Additionally, the residents of philippines showed a decrease in 2010 from 50% in 1990 to 40% in 2010 and then predicted around 53% in 2040. Similarly, the ratio of residents of big towns in Thailand continue changing and it moved from 19% in 1970 to 30% in 2020 and expected to reach around 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: Malaysia has the highest urban share in the later years, while Thailand remains comparatively low, and you include several relevant figures and future estimates. The account of Malaysia and Indonesia broadly follows the chart. However, some details are inaccurate or imprecise: the Philippines peaks at about 48% in 1990, not 50%, and falls to roughly 42.5% in 2010, rather than 40%; Thailand rises gradually to about 33.5% in 2020, not 30%. The overview also says Thailand had the fewest city residents throughout, although Indonesia is lower at the start. You cover the task, but fuller, more accurate comparisons across the four countries would make the key features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph reporting country-specific figures. Sequencing phrases such as “Starting with Malaysia” and “Additionally” help the reader follow the account, and the comparisons are generally easy to locate. However, the overview’s claim that Thailand was lowest throughout conflicts with the later figures for Indonesia in 1970, and the repeated “However” does not always signal a clear contrast. The final paragraph also moves rapidly between countries without grouping trends or directly comparing them. To strengthen progression, organise the details around notable patterns—for example, Malaysia’s high endpoint and Indonesia’s rapid rise—and use linking expressions only where the relationship is precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “residing,” “predicted,” “gradually increased,” and “decrease.” These choices make the subject and broad trends clear, and you attempt some variation rather than relying only on “went up.” Some word choices and collocations are less natural or imprecise, however: “less number of people” and “an average of 53%” do not express the intended comparisons accurately, while “big towns” is less suitable than the chart’s focus on cities. “Highly populated” can also suggest population density rather than the proportion living in urban areas. Prefer precise terms such as “urban population share,” “the lowest proportion,” and “reached approximately.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “and,” “however,” and “while,” and the main meaning is generally clear. Some sentences show useful control of time references, such as describing past figures before giving predictions. There are nevertheless some errors in articles, agreement, and verb forms. For example, “percentage of population” needs an article or possessive, and “the ratio … continue changing” should use a past-tense verb to match the historical period. In “it also predicts the increase,” the graph is the subject, but the phrasing and tense are awkward for a chart description. Review article use and maintain consistent past forms for recorded data, reserving future or predictive forms for 2030 and 2040.

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