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 compares the proportion of the population of four Asian countries living in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020 with estimation for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it can be easily seen that the gradual increase in residents of Malaysia and Indonesia throughout the period, while the figures for the Philippines and Thailand fluctuated.

Firstly, the population living in Malaysia and Indonesia increased gradually from 30% to 45 % and 14% to 30 % respectively between 1970 to 2000, it continued to grow significantly and reach approximately 84% and 66% respectively by 2040.

Secondly, citizens of Philippines from 1970 to 2010 shows fluctuations till 45% and then goes up to about 58% in 2040, meanwhile the resident of Thailand showed a fluctuation untill 2020 that is from 18% to 30% and after that raised further.

Finally, all four countries are projected to show an increase in their urban population in 2030 and 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: Malaysia and Indonesia rise, while the Philippines and Thailand show some fluctuation, and you note that all four are projected to increase. Several figures are broadly accurate, including Malaysia’s rise from about 30% to the mid-80s and Indonesia’s growth from 14% to around 30% by 2000. However, some details are imprecise or misleading: the Philippines reaches about 48% in 1990, falls to roughly 42.5% in 2010, and is projected to reach about 55.5%, not 58%. Thailand’s movement is mostly gradual rather than fluctuating, and its post-2020 rise is substantial. The overview also misses key comparisons, especially Malaysia’s highest projected level and Indonesia overtaking the Philippines around 2010.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the account, and the country groupings give the report a basic logical progression. However, these connectors sometimes feel mechanical, and the final sentence repeats a general point already made rather than adding a useful comparison. Some links between ideas are unclear: the long sentence beginning “Firstly” joins several stages with a comma, while “meanwhile” does not clearly distinguish the Philippines and Thailand trends. Grouping the countries by contrasting patterns and using clearer transitions between historical data and forecasts would make the progression more effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “gradual increase,” “fluctuated,” “projected,” and “approximately.” These choices generally communicate the trends, and the meaning remains clear. Some word choices and collocations are less natural or imprecise, however. “The population living in Malaysia” is not the intended meaning; use “the proportion of Malaysia’s population living in cities.” Likewise, “citizens of Philippines” and “the resident of Thailand” are awkward, and “estimation” should be “estimates” or “projections.” “Raised further” is also an unsuitable description of a figure increasing. More precise vocabulary for urbanisation and trend changes, used consistently, would improve the report’s clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the main trends are usually understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur. The overview needs a complete clause: “it can be easily seen that the gradual increase” should be “it can be seen that the figures increased gradually.” In “from 1970 to 2010 shows fluctuations,” the subject and verb do not agree, and the time reference calls for “showed.” The sentence beginning “Firstly” is a comma splice, joining independent clauses without suitable punctuation or a conjunction. There are also errors with articles and prepositions, as in “between 1970 to 2000” (use “between 1970 and 2000”) and “citizens of Philippines” (use “the Philippines”). Check sentence boundaries, tense consistency, and agreement when revising.

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