Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph compares the percentage of the population living in four different Asian cities between the period of 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 to 2040.

Overall, an rise was seen in population prefering to live in citites and it is also predicted that it will remain same in future. Most of the cities show growth in percentage population living in cities with slight changesexcept for Philippines , as Philippines shows a shap decline.

Malaysia records the highest percentage population living in cities whereas Thailand has the lowest. A sharp incline was veiwed in the percentage population in Malaysia , starting from 30% in 1970 to being predicted to be more than 80% in 2040. While in Thailand it started with less than one fifth of its population and increased slightly more than 30 %.

On the other hand, an exceptional growth was seen in Indonesia, contradicting to Philippines's growth.Indonesia started with less than 20% and rose to nearly 60% an remarkable growth of nearly 40% but Philippines observed a sharp decline in the year 2010, after which it grow slightly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall rise in urban populations and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s strong growth and Indonesia’s substantial increase. Several figures are broadly consistent with the graph, such as Malaysia rising from 30% to above 80%, and Thailand starting below one fifth. However, the overview is unclear: the claim that the trend will “remain same” does not capture the differing projected rates, and the Philippines is described as showing a “sharp decline,” although its fall is modest and temporary, from about 48% in 1990 to 42.5% in 2010, followed by recovery. Some trends are also underdeveloped, particularly the contrast between Indonesia overtaking the Philippines and Malaysia remaining highest. More precise overview statements and coverage of the forecast would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs comparing countries. This gives the reader a coherent overall arrangement, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a contrast. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The overview’s statement that the trend will “remain same” conflicts with the later account of continued growth, while “contradicting to Philippines’s growth” does not clearly explain the comparison. Some linking words, including “While” at the start of a sentence, leave the relationship between ideas incomplete. Grouping countries by similar trends and using clearer references—for example, explicitly stating that Indonesia overtakes the Philippines by 2010—would make the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “predicted,” “sharp incline,” “exceptional growth,” and “decline.” These choices help communicate the broad trends, but several word forms, spellings, and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “prefering to live,” “veiwed,” “an rise,” and “an remarkable growth.” “Population living in cities” is also repeated frequently, and “sharp decline” overstates the Philippines’ relatively moderate dip. Aim for more precise, natural expressions such as “urban population share,” “increased steadily,” and “fell temporarily.” Careful proofreading and a wider set of accurate trend verbs would improve clarity and control while retaining the relevant vocabulary you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including comparisons introduced by “whereas” and “while,” and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between ideas unclear. Examples include “an rise,” “it will remain same,” “it grow slightly,” and the sentence fragment beginning “While in Thailand…”. There are also problems with articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries, as in “an remarkable growth of nearly 40% but Philippines observed…”. Use complete sentences, check subject–verb agreement and verb tense, and ensure clauses joined by “while” or “but” are grammatically balanced. More consistent control of these patterns would make the comparisons clearer and the complex sentences more reliable.

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