Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-13

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 information about the percentage of the population in four Asian nations living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with forcasts for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it can be seen that the highest increase observed in Malaysia, while Philippines' population showed most fluctuation. In all countries it estimated that population will grew.

The significant increase in the population of Malaysia seen throughout the timeline, in 1970 its population was around 30% which rose to about 45% in by 1990. Then in the next two decades it gradually surged to 70%, trend continued and population reached to approximately 75% in 2020. The forcast indicated that it will rose to 80% in 2030 and around 85% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the topic and gives some relevant figures for Malaysia, including its rise from about 30% to around 75% by 2020 and a further projected increase. However, it reports only one of the four countries, so the main comparisons and several important trends are missing; for example, Indonesia’s strong rise and the Philippines’ fluctuations are not described. The overview is also incomplete: “the highest increase observed in Malaysia” is not clearly supported as a comparison, and “in all countries it estimated that population will grew” is unclear. The response is 102 words, below the 150-word minimum, and this limits its coverage. To improve, include a concise overview and select key figures and contrasts for all four series.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph describing Malaysia. The sequence within that paragraph is generally chronological, and words such as “Overall,” “Then,” and “The forecast indicated” help signal progression. However, the report stops after one country, so there is no developed comparison or progression across the graph as a whole. Some links are awkward or incomplete, such as “The significant increase in the population of Malaysia seen throughout the timeline,” which does not form a complete sentence, and “trend continued” lacks a clear reference. Organise the body into paragraphs that group countries by comparable patterns, and use clear links to contrast their figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

There is a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “fluctuation,” “gradually surged,” and “forecast,” and the meaning of most of the Malaysia figures is clear. Some choices and forms are inaccurate or repetitive, however: “highest increase observed” is an awkward collocation, “population” is repeated where “urban share” or “proportion” would be more precise, and “forcasts” is misspelled twice. “Surged” also suggests a sharper rise than the gradual movement described. These issues do not prevent understanding, but greater precision and accurate spelling would strengthen the report. Use varied terms for proportions and describe changes in a way that matches their scale.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex structures, including a relative clause in “which rose to about 45%” and a future prediction. However, errors occur in several sentences and sometimes make relationships unclear. For example, “the highest increase observed in Malaysia” is missing a verb, “it estimated” needs a passive construction such as “it is estimated,” and “it will grew” combines incompatible verb forms. The sentence beginning “The significant increase…” is also a fragment, while “in 1970 its population was around 30% which rose” has unclear clause attachment. Practise complete sentence structures, passive forms, and consistent verb patterns for forecasts; check that each sentence has a clear subject and finite verb.

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