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 illustrates the data about the percentage of the community in four asian nations residing in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is evident that Malaysia will record the highest number of people living in cities in the future, whereas Thailand will have the lowest population compared to the other nations. Also, the population will increase in the future in all four countries.

To begin with, the Philippines recorded approximately 32% of people living in urban areas in 1970, which increased to nearly 47% in the next two decades. Then the number slightly declined till 2010 to nearly 41%, which will further increase to approximately 53% by 2040. Malaysia recorded 30% of the population living in cities in 1970. It increased over the years till present, and it is predicted that it will also rise in the future, reaching 80% in 2040.

Furthermore, 19% of people living in Thailand's cities in 1970, which further rose to nearly 30% in 1990. For the next three decades, the number remained almost unchanged, and in the future, it will rise to approximately 45% by 2040. Moreover, the lowest percentage of people who are residing in cities was recorded in Indonesia in 1970, which was only 13%. Over the years, it increased, and in the future it is predicted that the percentage will significantly increase to 605 by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall upward direction and correctly note Malaysia’s strong future position, and you include figures from all four countries. However, the overview is not fully accurate: Thailand is not projected to remain the lowest in 2040, as the Philippines is about 56% while Thailand is about 50%. The body also misreports some key values: the Philippines reaches about 48% in 1990, not 47% across the next two decades, and Indonesia is projected to reach about 64% in 2040, not “605” (presumably 60%). The claim that Thailand’s figure was almost unchanged for three decades overlooks its gradual rise. Select and compare the main trends more precisely, especially the contrasting growth rates of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs grouping the countries. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “To begin with” and “Furthermore” help signal movement between groups. However, the country-by-country reporting sometimes reads as a list rather than a comparison, and “Also” and “Moreover” provide limited links between the ideas. The overview’s reference to Thailand as the future lowest also conflicts with the later figures, weakening the progression of the report. Make comparisons explicit—for example, contrast Indonesia’s rapid rise with the Philippines’ fluctuations—and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “residing in cities,” “urban areas,” “declined,” and “remained almost unchanged.” These choices help describe trends, but some wording is imprecise or repetitive: “the number” is used for percentages, while “population” and “percentage of people” recur frequently. “Highest number of people” is also less accurate than describing the highest proportion. The final “605” is a serious numerical notation error that obscures the intended figure, and “asian” should be capitalised as “Asian.” Aim for precise terms such as “proportion,” “share,” and “urbanisation rate,” and check that figures and units are expressed clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “which” and time expressions such as “from 1970 to 2020.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. For example, “Furthermore, 19% of people living in Thailand's cities in 1970” is a sentence fragment; it needs a finite verb, such as “Furthermore, 19% of people lived…” The sentence “It increased over the years till present” uses an awkward tense construction, and “which will further increase” has an unclear reference. Use consistent past tense for historical data and clear future forms for projections, while checking that each sentence has a complete main clause and an identifiable subject.

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