Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph tracks the changes in the proportion of people living in cities from four different countries located in Asia over a period of 50 years, from 1970 till 2020, along with the anticipation of future population growth over two decades from 2020 till 2040.

Overall, the highest proportaion of city population is shown in Malaysia which rose substantially from only 30% in 1930 to reaching almost 75% increase in 2020. It is forecasted that the population of Malaysian citizens will further surge in 2030 for 80% and reach the hightest at 85% in 2040. The least upward trend is shown by the citizens of Thailand with just 20% in 1970 to 30% in 2020 and the predictions shows it will icrease to just 50 % in near future.

Phillipines and Indonesia showed fluctuations in its citizens population over the period. Starting from just 20% and 30% increase in population in 1970 respectively, their population soared dramatically and is predicted to reach about 35% and 45% respectively in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad topic and include an overview of Malaysia’s strong rise and Thailand’s comparatively modest growth. However, the response only partially reports the main features, and several figures or comparisons are inaccurate. Malaysia begins at 30% in 1970, not 1930, and reaches about 76% in 2020; Thailand rises from 18% to around 34%, rather than 20% to 30%. The final paragraph also misstates the 2040 figures: the Philippines is projected at about 56% and Indonesia at 64%, not 35% and 45%. In addition, Indonesia’s marked rise and the Philippines’ fluctuation are not clearly distinguished. Select the key trends and support them with accurate start, end, and forecast figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph about the remaining countries. This gives the reader a basic progression through the information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Starting from,” and “respectively” help connect ideas, although some connections are not fully clear. For example, “Phillipines and Indonesia showed fluctuations” groups the countries together, even though Indonesia rises steadily while the Philippines fluctuates. The final sentence’s “35% and 45% respectively” is also difficult to reconcile with the earlier figures and forecast period. Organise the body around meaningful comparisons—such as Malaysia’s high levels and Indonesia’s rapid growth—and use references that make each country and time period unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “rose substantially,” “surge,” “fluctuations,” and “soared dramatically.” These choices show an attempt to vary your language rather than repeat “increase.” However, some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural for this chart. “Population growth” and “increase in population” suggest changes in the number of people, whereas the graph shows the percentage living in cities. “Anticipation” is not a natural way to introduce projections, and “reach the hightest” is both misspelled and imprecise. Spelling errors such as “proportaion,” “Phillipines,” and “icrease” also reduce accuracy. Prefer precise terms such as “urban population share” and “is projected to rise,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of sentence forms, including a complex introduction with “along with” and a forecast sentence beginning “It is forecasted that.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions occur. In “the highest proportion … is shown in Malaysia which rose,” the relative clause has an unclear connection; “Malaysia had the highest proportion, which rose…” would be clearer. “The predictions shows” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “Starting from … respectively, their population soared” has an unclear subject and number relationship. The phrase “from … to reaching” also combines forms incorrectly. Practise keeping the subject consistent when describing a country’s percentage, and use parallel forms such as “rose from X to Y” and “is projected to reach Z.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.