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 line graph illustrates percentage of the population living in four Asian countries living in cities from n1970 to 2020.

Overall, the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities, whereas the higest proportion Philippines and the lowest is Indonesia.

In 1970, 30% was the higest at Philippines, followed by Malaysia at 30% also rose, and Thailand at 20%, Indonesia at 15%. For constant, in 2020 the higher was living in cities at 75% population followed by Indonesia dramatically at 50% population living in cities, Thailand gradually increase at 21% whereas Philippines slightly rose from 30% to 32% respectively.

In 2030, 80% at Malaysia go up form 70% to 80% populatiom living in cities, at grow from 40% to 50%, Philippines was sharply climb from 40 to 50. While,Indonesia increased from 50% to 60% at Thailand climb from 21% to 30%. In 2040 Malaysia is also higest all over the period from 80% to 85%, followed by second higher Indonesia at 60% and Philippines at 60% population living in cities, thailand at 40% people living in cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and include several relevant years, but the main features are not reported accurately or clearly enough. The overview says the Philippines had the highest urban share and Indonesia the lowest, which is true only at the beginning for the latter and is not true overall: Malaysia is highest from 2000 onward, while Indonesia rises strongly. Several figures are also substantially misread: in 2020 Malaysia is about 76%, not 75% as the highest only without naming it clearly; Thailand is about 34%, not 21%; and the Philippines is about 46%, not 32%. The 2030 and 2040 comparisons contain further inaccurate values. Select the major trends and check each figure against the graph before describing it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic time-based structure, moving from 1970 and 2020 to the forecasts, and phrases such as “followed by” show an attempt to compare countries. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview is incomplete and the body combines several countries and years in long, loosely connected sentences. For example, “In 2030, 80% at Malaysia go up…” shifts abruptly between years and series, while “For constant” does not clearly signal the intended comparison. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the main trends, then group countries with similar patterns. Clear sentence boundaries and more precise links between comparisons would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “population,” “followed by,” and “increased,” so the reader can recognise the subject and intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the report awkward or unclear. Examples include “For constant,” “the higher was living in cities,” and “at grow from 40% to 50%.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “higest,” “form,” and “populatiom,” and repeated use of “go up” and “climb.” Build a more accurate set of trend verbs and comparison phrases, and check spelling and word forms during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There are attempts to report changes across time, but sentence structures are mostly simple or incomplete, and errors frequently make relationships between figures difficult to understand. For instance, “Overall, the percentage … whereas the higest proportion Philippines” lacks a complete grammatical structure, while “Malaysia go up” and “Philippines was sharply climb” use incorrect verb forms. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or misplaced, as in “at Philippines” and “at Malaysia.” Use complete subject–verb sentences, with past forms for historical data and “is projected to” for forecasts. Shorter, carefully controlled sentences would help communicate the comparisons more reliably.

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