Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-14

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 illustrates the information about the proportion of the population in four Asian countries living in urban areas from 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the population of Malaysia grew dramatically over the time and also predicted that it will increase in future. Indonesia has the lowest urban population at start but it grew over the time. In future the Thailand will has the smallest urban population.

In 1970, approximately 30% population of Malaysia and Philippines lived in cities. Malaysia's figure the rose steadily reaching 60% in 2000 and around 76% in 2020. It is forecast to climb further to approximately 83%. by contract, Philippines showed more fluctuations and reached at around 43% in 2010, after that it slightly recovered and reached at 48% in 2020. It is projected at above 55% in 2040.

Thailand and Indonesia started with lower proportion at 29% and 14% respectively in 1970. Indonesia's figure increased gradually to 30% in 2000, before rising more sharply to around 43% in 2010 and 60% in 2030. It is expected to reach approximately 64% by 2040. Thailand, meanwhile, saw a slower increase, reaching around 33% in 2020. Its urban population is forecast to rise to 50% by 2040, remaining below the corresponding figures for the other three countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a clear overview of the main patterns: Malaysia rises strongly, Indonesia grows from the lowest starting point, and Thailand is projected to remain the least urbanised in 2040. Most figures and comparisons are relevant, including Malaysia’s rise to about 76% in 2020 and Indonesia’s sharp growth after 2000. However, there are some inaccuracies: Thailand began at about 18%, not 29%, and the Philippines was around 45.5% in 2020, not 48%. The overview could also compare the countries’ relative positions more fully, especially Indonesia’s projected rise above the Philippines. The response covers the task and selects key features, but some details and comparisons need more precise reporting and development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into a brief introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, with the countries grouped in a generally logical way. Sequencing expressions such as “before rising more sharply,” “meanwhile” and “after that” help show changes over time. The progression is clear overall, though some linking is mechanical or awkward: “by contract” does not express the intended contrast, and the overview’s country-by-country statements could be connected more explicitly. There is also a confusing comparison in the final sentence, where Thailand is said to remain below the other three countries without clearly distinguishing the forecast years. More precise referencing and smoother transitions between comparisons would make the cohesion more flexible and consistently clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “fluctuations,” “gradually,” “sharply,” “projected” and “forecast.” These choices help describe both trends and predictions, and the meaning is generally clear. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however. “The population … grew” is less suitable when describing the percentage living in cities; “urbanisation rate” or “proportion” would be more exact. “By contract” is an incorrect phrase for introducing a contrast, and “reached at around” is not a natural collocation. There is also some repetition of “figure” and “increase.” Greater precision in trend vocabulary and more natural collocations would strengthen the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “before,” “after that” and “while,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms, articles and sentence construction. For example, “it will increase in future” is missing an article, while “the Thailand will has” combines incompatible verb forms. “Malaysia’s figure the rose” contains an unnecessary word, and “Thailand and Indonesia started with lower proportion” needs a plural or article adjustment. Punctuation is also inconsistent, as in “83%. by contract.” These errors do not generally prevent understanding, but more careful editing of verb patterns, articles and sentence boundaries would improve accuracy while preserving your range of structures.

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