Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph depicts information about the percentage of the population in four asian countries living in cities between 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, percentage of the population living in cities. Malaysia is the highest population living in cities and Thailand is the lowest population living in cities.

In the year 1970 asian countries like Philippines,Malaysia,Thailand,Indonesia. Had percentage of total population. Philippines and Malaysia started with 30% of total population and then slowly Malaysia is increasing the percentage of total population. However, Thailand had around 15% of total population and Indonesia had around 12% of total population. While in the year 2000, Malaysia is the highest in percentage of total population 60 %. Philippines had decline around 45% of total population. and Thailand and indonesia are around 25 % of total population.

On the other hand, in the year 2040 Malaysia is at peak with 80% of total population. Indonesia had growen to the second highest in total population around 60%. Phillippines had several highes and downes and it reached 50 % of total population. Thailand is the lowest country around 40 % of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that Malaysia becomes the most urbanised country and give figures for the beginning, 2000 and 2040. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: Thailand is not the lowest throughout, since Indonesia starts lower, and by 2040 Thailand is still below the other countries. Several figures also need closer checking: in 1970 the Philippines was about 32% and Malaysia 30%, rather than both 30%; in 2000 Thailand and Indonesia were both about 30%, not 25%. The account omits important changes, especially Indonesia’s strong rise and the Philippines’ rise, fall and recovery. A clearer overview and more accurate comparisons across the period would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and the chronological grouping gives the reader a basic route through the data. However, progression is not consistently clear. The overview fragment, “Overall, percentage of the population living in cities,” does not express a complete idea, while the next sentence repeats “population living in cities.” The 1970 paragraph also contains a sentence fragment (“In the year 1970 … Had percentage…”) and an unclear list before moving to 2000. Linking phrases such as “However” and “On the other hand” are used, but the latter does not signal a meaningful contrast. Organise the body around clear time periods or country trends, and connect each comparison explicitly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “predictions,” “decline,” and “highest,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, particularly “percentage of total population” and “highest … in total population.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “Malaysia is the highest population living in cities” and “Indonesia had growen to the second highest in total population.” Spelling errors, including “asian,” “Phillippines,” “growen,” and “downes,” also reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “urban population,” “proportion,” and “rose,” and describe the figures as percentages of each country’s population.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There are attempts to use longer sentences and contrast clauses, for example, “However, Thailand had around 15% … and Indonesia had around 12%.” Nevertheless, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include the fragment “In the year 1970 … Had percentage,” the missing verb in “Malaysia is the highest in percentage,” and the faulty form “Indonesia had growen.” Tense use also shifts between past and present when describing historical data, while punctuation and sentence boundaries are often unreliable, as in “Philippines had decline … . and Thailand…” Practise complete subject–verb sentences and use the past tense consistently for recorded years, reserving future forms for predictions.

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