Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given line graph indicates the comparison of percentage of urban populations of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 along with the predictions for years 2030 to 2040.

Overall, there has been a gradual increase in the population of malaysian citizens, predicted to be the most in the future year 2040 while the population of citizens of Thailand increases but is predicted to host the least precentage comparatively.

To begin with, the Malaysian population steadily increased from 30% in 1970 to slightly above 80% in 2040. Similar to this, Indonesian urban population also rose from 15% in 1970 to almost 60% by the year 2040 as per the predictions.

In contrast to this, population of Philippines demonstrated a fluctuating trend with 30% in 1970 to a surge of 50% in 1990. Again it suffered a decline in 2010, reducing to slightly more than 40% later expected to rise consistently to 60% by the year 2040. As for the population of Thailand, it increased considerably from 19% to almost 30% from year 1970 to 1990, followed by consistency for the coming 30 years and is expected to rise to more than 45% in the 2040.

To conclude, the populations of all 4 countries is expected to rise effectively by the year 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You provide a relevant overview, identifying Malaysia as the highest series by 2040 and Thailand as comparatively low, and you describe the main direction of change for all four countries. Several figures are close to the chart, such as Malaysia rising from 30% to just over 80% and Thailand reaching nearly 50% in 2040. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: Indonesia is forecast to reach about 64%, not “almost 60%,” and the Philippines peaks at about 48% in 1990 rather than 50%, then falls to around 42.5% in 2010 before recovering. The overview also misses the notable contrast that Indonesia overtakes the Philippines around 2010. More precise comparisons and a clearer account of these turning points would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the countries’ trends. The sequence from Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines and Thailand is easy to follow, and phrases such as “In contrast” help signal a change in focus. However, the final “To conclude” repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison, and some links are mechanical or imprecise, including “Similar to this” and “Again.” The country-by-country descriptions also miss opportunities to connect the series directly—for example, comparing Indonesia’s rise with the Philippines’ decline around 2000–2010. Use more precise transitions and organise details around meaningful comparisons to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “steadily increased,” “fluctuating trend,” “decline,” and “rise consistently.” These choices make the main movements understandable, and you attempt more formal phrasing. However, some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural for this chart: “population of Malaysian citizens” suggests total population rather than the urban share, while “host the least percentage” and “rise effectively” are not suitable collocations. “Surge” also overstates the Philippines’ increase, which is more accurately described as a rise. There are spelling errors in “malaysian” and “precentage.” Prefer precise terms such as “urbanisation rate” or “proportion living in cities,” and check spelling and collocation carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “In contrast to this” and a participial phrase, “reducing to slightly more than 40%.” Most sentences communicate the intended trends, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “the populations of all 4 countries is expected” has a subject–verb agreement error; “population of Philippines” needs an article; and “from year 1970 to 1990” is missing an article. The sentence about the Philippines also shifts awkwardly between past and future forms (“demonstrated,” “suffered,” “later expected”). Use consistent tense for historical data and forecasts, and check articles, agreement, and punctuation. Greater accuracy across these structures would make the report more controlled.

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