Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The graph illustrates about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is clear that the percentage of population living in Malaysia increased significantly from 1970 to 2040, while Thailand showed a gradual decline.Indonesia also shows a strong rise over a period, In contrast,Philippines increased more slowly.

In summary, percentage of population increases in all four countries, with Malaysia rising the most, Thailand fluctuates slowly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic and attempts an overview, but it does not adequately summarise the graph. The claim that Thailand “showed a gradual decline” is inaccurate: its urban population share rises throughout, from about 18% to nearly 50%. The statement that all four countries increase is broadly correct, but the response omits the key comparison that Malaysia ends highest, while Indonesia rises sharply and overtakes the Philippines. It also gives no supporting figures or meaningful detail about the periods shown. The response is substantially below the required 150 words; 23 words copied from the prompt were not counted. To improve, report the main trends accurately and support them with selected start, end, or turning-point values.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic sequence: an introduction is followed by an overview and a concluding summary. This gives the reader some sense of the response’s purpose. However, the ideas are not developed into a clear, coherent account of the graph, and the final “In summary” largely repeats the overview rather than adding organised comparisons. Connections between claims are also weakened by missing spaces after full stops, as in “decline.Indonesia” and “contrast,Philippines.” Use separate, clearly planned paragraphs and group the countries by meaningful trends—for example, Malaysia’s high rise and Indonesia’s rapid growth, then the slower changes in the Philippines and Thailand. This would create clearer progression and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses relevant basic terms such as “percentage,” “increased significantly,” “gradual,” and “strong rise,” so the general subject is understandable. However, the vocabulary is repetitive and sometimes imprecise: “increases” is repeated, and “Thailand showed a gradual decline” uses a trend description that does not match the graph. Phrases such as “increased more slowly” also need a clear comparison or supporting detail. A wider, more precise range for describing data—such as “rose steadily,” “climbed sharply,” “remained comparatively stable,” and “overtook”—would help distinguish the countries’ patterns. Check collocations too: “the percentage of the population” is more natural than “the percentage of population.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes some straightforward sentence forms and attempts a contrast with “In contrast,” which helps communicate the basic message. However, the range is narrow, with most ideas expressed as short, simple statements, and punctuation errors make the writing less controlled. For example, “decline.Indonesia” and “In contrast,Philippines” lack spaces after punctuation; the latter also needs an article before the country name in this sentence. The phrase “while Thailand showed a gradual decline.Indonesia also shows” creates an awkward sentence boundary, and the shift from “showed” to “shows” is inconsistent. Practise combining related comparisons in accurate complex sentences and check articles, tense consistency, and punctuation.

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

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