Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The diagram illustrates information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries. The countries name is Philippines, Malaysia or Thailand and Indonesia.

Overall, the diagram shows the population of of four countries living in the cities from 1970 to 2040.

The percentage of the population living in the city Philippines 1970 about 32 percent. After the one years it mean 1980 it increased, but in 1990 it increased 29 percent. Ater the two years population is increased and deacrease till 2040

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the general subject and names the four countries, but it reports almost none of the graph’s main features. It focuses only on the Philippines, gives one approximate starting figure, and then says the percentage “increased and deacrease till 2040” without clearly describing the actual pattern or comparing countries. The statement that it “increased 29 percent” in 1990 is also unclear: the figure is about 48%, roughly 16 percentage points above 1980, not an increase of 29 points. There is no useful overview of Malaysia’s highest projected level or Indonesia’s strong rise. The response is 72 words, so it does not meet the 150-word minimum. To improve, summarise the overall trends and select accurate comparisons across all four lines.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction and an “Overall” statement before moving to a detail about the Philippines. However, the overview does not actually summarise the graph, and the final sentence is difficult to follow because the sequence of changes is not specified. The response also stops without a concluding comparison or coverage of the other countries, so the information does not progress in a clear, complete way. Linking words such as “After” and “but” are attempted, but they do not make the relationships between the figures clear. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and key details, then group countries by their trends and connect each comparison explicitly.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is basic but includes some relevant task language, such as “percentage,” “population,” “increased,” and “decrease.” These words show an attempt to describe numerical change, but the range is too narrow for a graph summary and some choices are inaccurate or unclear. For example, “the population of … countries living in the cities” does not clearly express the proportion living in urban areas, while “increased 29 percent” leaves the intended comparison uncertain. Spelling errors such as “Ater” and “deacrease” also reduce accuracy. Build a small set of precise trend expressions, including “rose from … to …,” “remained relatively stable,” and “was projected to reach,” and use “percentage points” when describing differences between percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The response attempts several simple sentences and a contrast, but grammatical control is inconsistent and the range is very limited. Errors include “The countries name is,” where the plural subject requires a plural form, and “the population of of four countries,” which contains a repeated preposition and an incomplete construction. In “The percentage … Philippines 1970 about 32 percent,” the sentence lacks the necessary linking verb and prepositions. The final sentence also shifts between past and present forms without a clear time reference. These problems make some relationships difficult to understand. Practise complete sentence patterns for reporting figures, such as “In 1970, about 32% of the population in the Philippines lived in cities,” and maintain consistent past or future forms according to the dates.

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