Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-15

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 graph compares the percentage of people living in cities on four Asian countries namely, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia over 40 year period from 1970 to 2020 and expected population by 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia is currently highest and expected to remain the top destination for living, and Thailand has marked the lowest.

In 1970, people living in Malaysia was 30%, compared to Indonesia at 10 %. Both figures increased over the following years, reaching 80% and 50%, respectively by 2020 BY 2040, the proportions had risen further to 90% in Malyasia and 60% in Indonesia.

Thailand recorded the lowest individuals residing there throughout the period. Its figure rose from 15% in 1970 to 40% in 2040. Despite this substantial increase, it remained below figures recorded in other three countries at the end of the period. Finally, Philippines started at 30% and had a little rise but eventually declined at 50 at 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in urban populations and correctly note Malaysia’s leading position and Thailand’s low starting point. However, the overview is incomplete: it says Thailand “has marked the lowest,” although by 2020 and in the forecasts Indonesia is not the lowest, and it misses Indonesia’s particularly rapid growth and the Philippines’ rise-and-fall pattern. Several figures are also inaccurate: Indonesia is about 14% in 1970 and 52% in 2020, not 10% and 50%; Malaysia is about 76% in 2020 and 84% in 2040, not 80% and 90%. The Philippines reaches about 56% in 2040, rather than 50%. Select the main trends more precisely and support them with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the countries. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. The sequence from 1970 to the forecast years is also mostly clear. However, the comparisons are uneven because Malaysia and Indonesia are grouped together, while the Philippines is reduced to a brief final statement and its changing trend is not clearly explained. The transition “Finally” does little to show how that information relates to the preceding comparison. There is also a punctuation break in “by 2020 BY 2040,” which interrupts the flow. Grouping countries by meaningful trends and using clearer links between time periods would strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a sufficient range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “reaching,” “increased,” “declined,” and “substantial increase.” These choices make the general subject and direction of change understandable. Some expressions, however, are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph: “top destination for living” suggests a place people choose to move to, rather than the highest urban-population share, and “lowest individuals residing there” confuses people with a percentage. “Had a little rise” is also vague, while “on four Asian countries” is an inaccurate collocation. Spelling errors such as “Malyasia” further reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “urban population share” and “proportion” consistently, and check country names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including the overview clause “Malaysia is currently highest and expected to remain…” and the contrast beginning “Despite this substantial increase…”. The main meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. In the introduction, “on four Asian countries” needs a different preposition, and “over 40 year period” is missing an article and plural marking. “People living in Malaysia was 30%” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “Thailand has marked the lowest” is not a well-formed description. The sentence beginning “Both figures increased” also runs into “BY 2040” without appropriate punctuation. Review articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, and vary sentence structures while keeping them controlled.

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