Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-09

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 given graph chart illustrate the population of four countries live in cities since 1970 to 2020 and also show prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it can be seen that population of malaysia maximum all the time and also the prediction show that it will increase in the upcoming period. However, population of thailand very less as compare to others.

Looking at the line chart in more details, first of all population of malaysia 30% in 1970 and it was inclined by 10% in after a decade and reached at 70% in 2010 the prediction shows that it will reach at 80% in 2040. Furthermore, the population of philippines stay at 30 to 31% in period of ten years but it reached at near 50% from 1980 to 1990, but it decreased slowly till 2010. However, it start increased in 2010 and reached at 45% approximately. The prediction shows that it will go to 50% by 2040.

Moreover, the population of indonesia at very low percent in 1970 but it reached at 50% in 2020 and prediction shows that it will reach at around 60% in 2040. In addition, the population of thailand at 19% in 1970 and it increased by 10% till 2010, prediction shows that it will inclined by 20% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad upward trend in all four countries and note Malaysia’s high figures and Thailand’s comparatively low starting point. However, the overview is incomplete: Malaysia is not highest throughout, since the Philippines is slightly higher in 1990, and Indonesia overtakes the Philippines by 2010. Several details are also inaccurate or unclear. Malaysia reaches about 71% in 2010 and is projected to reach roughly 84% in 2040, not 70% and 80%; the Philippines does not remain around 30–31% for a decade, and its 2040 figure is about 56%, not 50%. Thailand rises by about 32 percentage points overall, rather than 20. Select the main turning points and compare the countries more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the countries. This gives the information a coherent overall arrangement, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore,” and “Moreover” help signal progression. However, the country-by-country sequence sometimes makes comparisons difficult to follow, and some transitions are mechanical or confusing. For example, “However” introduces a rise in the Philippines after describing its decline, while the Malaysia paragraph moves from 2010 directly to 2040 without clearly distinguishing the intervening forecast. Grouping countries by contrasting patterns—such as Malaysia’s strong rise and the Philippines’ fluctuation—would make the comparisons clearer. Use referencing and transitions to show how each figure relates to the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “prediction,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “reached,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are noticeably inaccurate, which makes parts of the report awkward. Examples include “population … inclined,” “population … very less,” and “maximum all the time”; these are not natural ways to describe proportions or trends. “The population of …” is also repeated frequently where “the urban share” or “the proportion living in cities” would be more precise. Aim to use a small range of accurate trend verbs and comparison phrases, such as “rose,” “levelled off,” “overtook,” and “remained below.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response is divided into paragraphs, but grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. Examples include “The given graph chart illustrate,” “population of malaysia maximum,” and “it start increased,” which show problems with subject–verb agreement, articles, and verb forms. Tense and sentence construction are also inconsistent in phrases such as “the prediction shows that it will reach at 80%.” Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, for example, “Malaysia’s urban population rose to about 71% in 2010 and is projected to reach approximately 84% by 2040.” Check articles, capitalization of country names, and past versus future forms when editing.

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