Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-08

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 graph illustrates the percentage of the population of various cities in four different countries of Asia from 1970 to 2020. Furthermore, the graph displays the prediction of population for the years 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population of all four countires have been increasing from the beginning. Although initilally, Malaysia has second most population, after decades it increased gradually and reaches the top including the prediction years. While countries such as indonesia and thailand had lower population, later it rose with better percentage.

In 1970, Malaysia with 30% of population and this percentage increases, reaching with 70% in 2010 and 75% in 2020. In 2030 and 2040 population is predicted with 80% and 85% respectively. Although both Thailand and Indonesia has a smaller poulation in 1970 with less than 20% then it increases gradually and reaches 30% and 50% in 2020 and also in 2030 and 2040 population was predicted with more than 40% and 60% respectively.

In contrast, Phillipines had highest population in 1970 then fluctuated over the period 1980 to 2010. Later, in 2030 and 2040 its population predicted with 50% and 55% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: urbanisation rises in all four countries, and Malaysia becomes the highest, while the Philippines fluctuates. You also include relevant figures and cover the forecast period. However, some comparisons are imprecise or unclear. The Philippines was highest only in 1970; by 1990 Malaysia had overtaken it, and Indonesia rose sharply to about 52% in 2020, exceeding the Philippines. The statement that Thailand and Indonesia reach “30% and 50% in 2020” is ambiguous, and the later forecast figures are not clearly assigned to each country. A clearer overview and more accurate, direct comparisons—especially of Indonesia’s strong growth and the Philippines’ changing position—would make the key features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs presenting country figures. This gives the reader a workable progression from general trends to details. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Although,” and “In contrast” help signal relationships, but some connections are mechanical or do not fit the information cleanly. For example, “Although both Thailand and Indonesia…” leads into a long sentence that combines historical and forecast figures without clearly identifying which values belong to which country. The overview also shifts between countries without a precise comparison. Use shorter, more clearly grouped sentences and organise the details by meaningful contrasts—for example, Malaysia’s high levels versus Indonesia’s rapid rise—to make references and comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a line graph, including “percentage,” “fluctuated,” “gradually,” and “predicted,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. “Population of various cities” suggests the graph measures city populations, rather than the share of each country’s population living in cities; “population” is also repeatedly used where “urban proportion” or “figure” would be more precise. Phrases such as “reaches the top” and “rose with better percentage” are informal or unclear. There are also spelling errors, including “countires,” “initilally,” “poulation,” and “Phillipines.” More precise graph language and careful proofreading would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “Although” and “While,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “population of all four countires have been increasing” needs an article and a singular verb (“the proportion … has increased”), while “both Thailand and Indonesia has” requires a plural verb. The fragment-like construction “In 1970, Malaysia with 30%” needs a main verb, and “its population predicted” needs a passive form such as “its figure is predicted to reach.” Several long sentences also make the relationships between figures harder to follow. Aim for complete clauses and check agreement and verb forms when describing trends.

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