Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-11

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 provided line graph illustrates the proportion in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020 after that predicing years from 2030 to 2040.

Overall it is clear that Malaysia had the highest percentage of total population while, Thailand showed the increase but represented the least proportion in all four cities.

Turning to the first category, Malaysia stood 30% in 1970, it started gradullay rose and reached around 80% in 2020 but in 2040 city will be reach at 80%. In addition, Philippines accounted to 30% in 1970 , it fluctuate since 2010 and amounted to 40% ,after that it steadily grow and reach around 50% in 2040.

However, Thailand stood below 20% in 1970, reached 30% in 2020 after it sharply go upward from 2020 to 2040. Moreover, Indonesia showed upward trend and accounted to just under 30% in 2000 then considerably grew and reached just around 60% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the general subject and include an overview, noting Malaysia’s high urban share and growth in Thailand. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: Thailand was not the least throughout, since Indonesia began lower in 1970, and Malaysia is projected to reach about 84% in 2040, not around 80% in 2020 and 2040. Several figures and trends are also misreported: Malaysia was about 76% in 2020, while the Philippines was around 46% then, not 40%; Thailand reaches about 34% in 2020, rather than 30%. The response is under the required 150 words, at 142 words, which limits the detail and comparisons. Select the main turning points and compare the countries more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs grouping the countries. This gives the reader some organisation, and transitions such as “Turning to” and “Moreover” signal movement between points. However, the progression within the body paragraphs is not always clear. For example, the Malaysia sentence moves from 1970 to 2020 and then back to a prediction for 2040, while the Philippines account jumps from 2010 to 40% without making the time sequence clear. “However” does not establish a clear contrast between the countries that follow. Organise the data chronologically or group countries by comparable trends, and use linking phrases to show those relationships precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “proportion,” “fluctuate,” “upward trend,” “steadily,” and “reached,” so the main subject is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “stood 30%,” “accounted to,” “city will be reach,” and “sharply go upward.” Spelling errors, including “predicing,” “gradullay,” and “fluctuate” where the intended form is “fluctuated,” also reduce control. Aim for a smaller set of accurate chart-reporting expressions, such as “stood at,” “rose to,” and “was projected to reach,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses linked with “while,” “but,” and “after,” and the reader can usually identify the countries and broad trends. However, the range is limited and errors occur frequently, particularly in verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “it started gradullay rose” combines incompatible verb patterns, and “in 2040 city will be reach at 80%” has errors in the future passive and preposition use. The sentence beginning “Malaysia stood 30% in 1970, it started…” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Use clear sentence boundaries and practise consistent past-tense descriptions for historical data and “is projected to” for forecasts.

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