Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The data illustrates about population in four different Asian countries over the years and predicts the population in future.

Firstly, in the year 1990 till 2020 the percentage of population is in increasing trend. Where the highest number of population is in Malaysia of 79% rise till 2020 from 30% in 1970. Whereas, Philippines and Thailand are at same increasing trend respectively 30 % and 20% in 1970, which rose to 40% and 30 % in 2020 respectively . Indonesia showed a drastic change in the population from 2000 till 2020 from 10% in 1970 and just above 20% in 2000 which rose to 50% in 2020.

Secondly, the prediction of population in 2030 and 2040 Malaysia will be at the peak of rise of 80%. While Indonesia predicted at 60 % rise in future. Philippines and Indonesia will be between 40-50%. The predicted percentage ratio is higher than the past mentioned years for all four Asian countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the countries and include some relevant comparisons, especially Malaysia’s strong rise and Indonesia’s faster growth after 2000. However, the response only partially summarises the graph: it gives no clear overall overview of the main patterns, and several figures or trends are inaccurate. For example, Malaysia is reported at 79% in 2020, whereas the chart shows about 76%; the Philippines and Thailand are described as rising to 40% and 30%, rather than approximately 45.5% and 33.5%. The statement that all four countries rise continuously from 1990 to 2020 also overlooks the Philippines’ decline between 1990 and 2010. Include a concise overview and select accurate key figures to support it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: the first paragraph discusses historical figures and the second turns to predictions. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help signal this division, and the country comparisons give the reader a basic path through the information. However, the progression is not always clear: the opening refers to 1990–2020, then jumps back to 1970, and the final comparison is difficult to follow because it says “Philippines and Indonesia” where the preceding sentence appears to contrast Indonesia with the other countries. Some linking phrases, including “Whereas” and “While,” introduce incomplete or loosely connected clauses. Organise the report around an overview followed by past trends and forecasts, and make each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “percentage,” “prediction,” “rise,” and “drastic change,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for a graph report. “The data illustrates about population” does not clearly describe what is measured, while “peak of rise” and “predicted percentage ratio” are awkward choices. Repetition of “population,” “rise,” and “increasing trend” also limits precision. Choose vocabulary that names the measure and describes movement accurately, such as “urban population share,” “increased,” “declined,” or “is projected to reach.” This would make comparisons clearer and more concise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use past and future time references, but control is uneven. Several sentence patterns are incomplete or awkward, such as “Where the highest number of population is in Malaysia” and “While Indonesia predicted at 60% rise in future”; these need a main clause and an appropriate verb form. There are also errors in articles, prepositions, and sentence construction, as in “in the year 1990 till 2020” and “the percentage of population is in increasing trend.” Some punctuation and spacing around percentages are inconsistent. Practise forming complete comparison sentences, for example, “Malaysia’s urban share rose from about 30% in 1970 to 76% in 2020,” and check tense consistency when moving from past data to forecasts.

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