Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 line graph shows the percetage of people in Plipippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia risiding in the cities between 1970 to 2020. There is another increase in number as predicted from year to 2040.

Overall, there is significant increase in the number of population in four countries living in the cities. It is also clear that the highest population among the four countries is Malaysia, while the lowest popolation in the predicted year is Thailand.

In detail, Indonesia has the lowest population in 1970 with 15% that increased to 60% in 2040, followed by Thailand with 18% of population that rose to 45% in the year 2040.

on the other hand, Malaysia and Philippines had 30% and 32%, subsequently from 1970 that jumped to 80% and one-half in 2040.

In conclusion, there were increased in number of people from 1970 to 2020 however it will still rise as predicted in the next ten to twenty years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall upward trend and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s strong rise and Indonesia’s growth from the lowest starting point. The overview also attempts to identify the highest and lowest countries, but it is not fully accurate: Malaysia is highest by the end, while Thailand is not the lowest in 2040; the Philippines is lower at about 56%, compared with Thailand at about 50%—so Thailand is actually lowest. Some figures are also imprecise: Indonesia reaches about 64%, not 60%, and the Philippines reaches about 56%, not “one-half.” The response covers the main time span, but it would be clearer if it reported the key changes and rankings more precisely, including the Philippines’ rise and subsequent dip before increasing again.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, a detail paragraph and a concluding sentence. This gives the information a coherent overall arrangement. However, the progression within the details is limited: the countries are grouped together without a clear organising principle, and the final conclusion largely repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison. Linking phrases such as “on the other hand” and “followed by” help connect points, but some links are awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between the figures. Organise the body around meaningful contrasts—for example, Malaysia’s high endpoint versus the other countries—and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “predicted,” “increased,” “rose” and “jumped,” and the reader can generally understand the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “increase in number” and “highest population” when describing the proportion living in cities. Spelling errors in “percetage,” “Plipippines,” “risiding” and “popolation” are noticeable and reduce precision. Use the specific language of the graph: describe the “percentage” or “proportion of the population living in cities,” and distinguish a rise in a percentage from an increase in the population itself. More accurate trend verbs and country names would make the report clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a relative clause in “Indonesia has the lowest population in 1970 with 15% that increased to 60% in 2040.” However, some grammatical errors make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “There is another increase in number as predicted from year to 2040” has an incomplete time expression, while “there were increased in number of people” has an incorrect verb form and agreement. The sentence beginning “on the other hand” also lacks a clear grammatical connection to the preceding point. Aim for controlled comparisons using complete clauses, such as “Indonesia’s urban share rose from about 14% in 1970 to 64% in 2040.” Check tense, articles and sentence boundaries when revising.

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