Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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 compares the percentage of four Asian nations residing in the cities with their population between 1970 to 2020, with 2030 and 2040 population predictions.The nations are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

Overall,Malaysia had the highes population among the nations,as it significantly rose gradually throughout the given period,followed by the Indonesia citizen, where resident had a steady growth. however, the Philipians population experience a fluntaution,while the Thailand had the least population throughout the given year.

To begin with ,In year 1970,Malaysia and Philipine countries,had similar population,philipines population ddecreased with 5% in the following year,while malaysia increased by 10% in year 1980 and rose sharply to the peak for the given period including the predicted years.however,philipines resident fluctauted throught te years.

Furthermore,population in Indonesia was the least in the year 1970, however as the year increases,thier population increase gradually from 15% to 55% of the given years with the predicted years. additionally, Thailand resident were 18% in the beginning of the given,however population went higher in 1990 by 25% and had a steady growth throughout the year.

Incomparism,The malaysia had the highest population,followed by Indonesia,although in year 2000 and 2010 imdonesia nhad similar popution with philipines and thialand of 22% and 33% respectively,. while the thialand had the least population among the 4 countries even with the pre

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four countries and give a general overview, noting Malaysia’s strong rise and the Philippines’ fluctuation. However, several key details are inaccurate or unclear, which limits how fully the main features are reported. Malaysia did not have the highest urban share throughout: the Philippines was slightly higher in 1970, and Malaysia overtook it later. The Philippines did not decrease by 5% in the following year; it rose slightly by 1980 before reaching a peak in 1990. Indonesia’s rise is broadly recognised, but the stated change from 15% to 55% is imprecise, and the comparison claiming similar figures in 2000 and 2010 is confusing and incorrect. Select accurate turning points and compare the countries more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for details, so there is an attempt to organise the information. However, progression is difficult to follow because comparisons are repeated or placed unclearly. For example, the final paragraph begins “Incomparism” and revisits rankings, then gives a confusing comparison of 2000 and 2010 figures before ending mid-sentence (“even with the pre”). Linking words such as “however” and “additionally” are used, but they do not always show a clear relationship between the ideas. Group the countries or time periods consistently, use transitions to signal contrasts, and ensure each paragraph develops one clear comparison from beginning to end.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt vocabulary relevant to describing trends, including “rose sharply,” “steady growth” and “fluctuated.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or spelling errors make the meaning difficult to interpret. Phrases such as “Malaysia had the highest population” confuse the urban percentage with the number of people, while “Indonesia citizen” and “resident” are not natural ways to describe the data. There are also repeated misspellings, including “Philipians,” “fluntaution” and “thialand.” Use precise terms such as “urban population share” or “proportion living in cities,” and check spelling and collocations carefully. This would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use clauses with “while,” “although” and “however,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in tense, agreement, articles and sentence boundaries occur frequently, as in “as the year increases, thier population increase gradually” and “the Thailand had the least population.” Several sentences also run together without appropriate punctuation, particularly in the overview and final paragraph, and the last sentence is incomplete. These problems sometimes make the intended comparisons hard to follow. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, keep past trends in the past tense, and use commas and full stops to separate ideas. A wider range of structures will be more effective when basic sentence accuracy is secure.

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