Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line chart describes the demographic rate of Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between 1970 to 2020 along with stimulation for next 20 years. Overall, all of those four countries shown a rapid increasement of populaiton over the years. Malaysia is predicted to have the highest population rate whereas Thailand will have the lowest by 2040.

In 1970, Indoneisa had the lowest and Philippines had the highest proportion of total population. After 20 years in 1990, the position remained same with dramatic rose for all. Malaysia took a sharp increment from 1990 to 2020 and placed on top of the population graph at 75%. In contrast, Thailand had a consistent population rate of nearly around 30% by 2020 and took the lowest positon among four countries.

It is clear from the chart that, the projection of populaiton rate of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand is nearly 80%, 60%, 50% and 45% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall direction and make relevant comparisons: Malaysia is projected to lead by 2040, while Thailand remains the lowest, and you note Indonesia’s rise. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear. The chart shows all four urban-population shares increasing overall, not a rapid increase in population itself; Thailand’s share is about 33.5% in 2020, rather than “nearly around 30%.” Your description of the 1990 ranking as unchanged is also incorrect: Malaysia, not the Philippines, is highest then. The final projections are broadly in the right order, but the figures are low, especially Thailand at about 50% rather than 45%. Develop the overview and comparisons with more precise trend descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear three-paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to historical details and then projections. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “After 20 years” help signal relationships, and the comparison between Malaysia and Thailand is relevant. To make progression more consistently clear, organise the body around meaningful periods or contrasting country trends, rather than moving between rankings and individual figures. Some references are imprecise: “the position remained same” does not clearly identify which countries’ positions you mean, and “all” in the overview is not supported by a specific trend description. More precise referencing and less formulaic transitions would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “proportion,” “projection,” “consistent,” and “sharp,” and the reader can generally understand your comparisons. However, several inaccurate word choices and collocations reduce precision: “demographic rate” and “population rate” do not describe the chart’s measure as clearly as “urban population share,” while “stimulation” is not the right word for future estimates. “Increasement” and “dramatic rose” are also incorrect forms, and spelling errors such as “populaiton,” “Indoneisa,” and “positon” are noticeable. Aim for accurate, natural phrases for describing data, such as “rose sharply,” “remained relatively stable,” and “is projected to reach.” This would make your vocabulary more flexible and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “whereas” and the sentence starting “In contrast.” The main meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “all of those four countries shown” needs a correctly formed verb (“all four countries showed”), and “between 1970 to 2020” uses an incorrect preposition pattern (“between 1970 and 2020”). There are also article and sentence-structure problems in “Malaysia is predicted to have the highest population rate” and “the position remained same.” Review past-tense forms, subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation around introductory phrases. More accurate control of these patterns would make your comparisons easier to follow.

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

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