Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

the line graph illustrate by what precentage of the population living in cities in Philippienes, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia since 1970 to 2020 and predictions to 2030 and 2040 years.

Overall, Malaysia and Indonesia is experienced the largest increases of populations in 1970 to 2020 and predicteble percentage also highly growes. However, Philippines and Thailand percentage of the population living in cities less than the other two countries.

The countries of Philippines and Malaysia total population percentage is 30 and Thailand and Indoniesia started betrween10-20 percentage in 1970.

but at the 2010 Philippines total poppulation percentage decrease and

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the four countries and the period covered, and your overview attempts to distinguish Malaysia and Indonesia from the Philippines and Thailand. However, the main trends are only partly reported: Malaysia’s strong rise and Indonesia’s substantial growth are mentioned generally, but the key contrast that Malaysia ends highest while Indonesia rises from the lowest starting point is not explained. The statement that the Philippines and Thailand remain below the other two is inaccurate for the early years, and the final sentence about the Philippines stopping at 2010 is unfinished. The response is also 52 words below the required minimum, leaving too little detail to summarise the graph adequately. Include a complete overview and several accurate comparisons across the period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt at organisation: an introduction is followed by an overview and then a detail paragraph. The opening overview also uses “However” to signal a contrast. Nevertheless, the response does not develop a clear progression through the data. The third paragraph gives only starting figures, and the final line, “but at the 2010… decrease and,” is incomplete, so the reader is left without a finished comparison or conclusion. The use of “but” at the start of a new paragraph does not connect the fragment effectively to the preceding information. Group the countries by trend, use clear links such as “By contrast” or “By 2040,” and ensure each paragraph contains complete, connected information.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “line graph,” “percentage,” “population,” “predictions,” and “increases,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make the writing less clear, such as “precentage,” “Philippienes,” “predicteble,” and “growes.” Phrases such as “total population percentage” are also imprecise for describing the share of people living in cities. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and use a wider range of trend language to describe rises, falls, and comparisons. Careful proofreading of country names and common academic terms would improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both a longer introductory sentence and an overview, but sentence structures are mostly simple and several errors affect accuracy. For example, “Malaysia and Indonesia is experienced” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and verb form; “since 1970 to 2020” uses an unsuitable tense pattern; and “Philippines and Thailand percentage … less” lacks a clear grammatical structure. The final clause beginning “but at the 2010” is incomplete, while punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent. These problems make some relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise complete comparative sentences, such as “Malaysia’s urban population rose from about 30% to 76% between 1970 and 2020,” and check agreement, articles, and verb forms.

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