Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of urban residants living in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, alongside with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Overall, there has been a gradual increase in the urban residency of all the four countries. It is estimated that over 80% of people living is Malysia will reside in cities by 2040.

The poulation of people living in cities of Malaysia and Philippines were almost identical in 1970 but by the year 2020 the figures increased substantially to 75% and 45% , respectively. It is even estimated that the figures will increase upto 80% and over 50% for both these countries , respectively.

In 1970, the urban population figures ranged from a little over 15 % for Thialand and over one-tenth for Indonesia. The number rose gradually to 50% and 30% ,respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the overall upward trend and correctly highlight Malaysia’s projected position above 80% by 2040. The comparisons between Malaysia and the Philippines in 1970 and 2020, and the broad rise for Thailand and Indonesia, are relevant. However, the overview is too general: the Philippines does not rise steadily, but fluctuates, while Indonesia shows particularly strong growth and is projected to overtake the Philippines. Some figures are also imprecise or misleading: Malaysia and the Philippines were not almost identical in 1970 (30% versus 32%), and the final sentence’s “50% and 30%” does not clearly identify the year or distinguish actual from projected data. The response is also below the required 150 words. Develop the key comparisons and report the main stages more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs comparing the countries. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “Overall” and “In 1970” help signal the focus. However, the progression is limited because the final paragraph gives a broad range of figures without specifying the years they refer to, and the comparison between Thailand and Indonesia is not fully explained. The second paragraph also groups Malaysia and the Philippines without clearly distinguishing their different patterns. Use a more deliberate grouping—for example, countries with the highest urban shares and those with the strongest growth—and make references such as “the figures” explicit. This would improve clarity and reduce the abruptness of the ending.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “predictions,” “gradual increase,” and “figures,” so the main trends are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “It is estimated that” and “ranged from.” However, some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “urban residency” is not a natural way to describe the share of people living in cities, and “population of people living in cities” is unnecessarily repetitive. Spelling errors such as “residants,” “Malysia,” “poulation,” and “Thialand” also reduce precision. Choose standard chart language such as “urban population” or “urbanisation,” and check spelling carefully. More precise trend verbs would help distinguish steady growth from fluctuation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a time contrast in “but by the year 2020” and a passive construction in “It is estimated that…”. Most sentences remain understandable, and grammatical errors do not usually prevent the reader from following your meaning. Some errors and awkward constructions are present, however. In “the figures increased … to 75% and 45%,” the plural subject is paired with a past-tense verb even though the sentence also refers to a future prediction; separate the historical figures from the forecast. “The number rose … to 50% and 30%” also has unclear agreement and reference, since two countries are being discussed. Review sentence boundaries and punctuation around commas, and use clear subjects and time markers to make comparisons grammatically precise.

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