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 line graph compares the percentage of the population in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia residing in cities from 1970 to 2000, with projection of up to 2040.

Overall, the percentage of residents in all four countries are predicted be more in 2040 compared to 1970.

Malaysia and Indonesia generally experienced significant upward trend over the 70-years period. Compared to the Philippines that fluctuated over a period.

The population of residents in Malaysia increased in first 20 years and slightly declined over the next ten years. In 2000 the percentage of resident living in cities peaked and steadily increased and is foreseen to reach over 80% the population. In contrast Thailand slightly increased over thirty years period and slightly declared over another thirty years and is projected to increase by 2040 at 38%.

In 1970 the urbanization of cities in Indonesia began at about 15% and slightly increased over the seventy years period and is projected to be the second highest population by 2040 at about 50%. Compared to the population of resident in Philippines that began at slightly above 30% and maintained the same percentage over a twenty years period, which fluctuated between 1990 and 2010 and predicted to maintained the same trend by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall upward direction and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s strong growth and the Philippines’ fluctuations. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear, which limits how fully the main features are reported. Malaysia did not peak in 2000: its urban share rose from about 60% then to roughly 84% by 2040. Thailand is projected to reach about 50%, not 38%, while Indonesia is expected to be the highest after Malaysia, at around 64%, rather than the second-highest at 50%. The opening also says the graph covers 1970–2000, although it extends to 2040. Report the key endpoints and distinguish the countries’ projected rankings more accurately to make the summary more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing country trends. Comparisons signalled by “In contrast” and “Compared to” help connect the information, and the reader can generally follow the intended progression. However, the country groupings and comparisons are not always easy to track, particularly in the final paragraph, where Indonesia and the Philippines are discussed in one long sentence. Some linking is also mechanical or imprecise, and the overview repeats broad upward-trend information without clearly ranking the countries. Give each paragraph a clearer focus, use shorter sentences for the country comparisons, and make references such as “the same trend” explicit. This would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “percentage,” “projection,” “fluctuated” and “urbanization,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is some variety in how you describe change, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “slightly declared” does not describe a trend, “population of residents” is redundant, and “urbanization of cities” is unnatural. “Maintained the same percentage” also overstates the Philippines’ early pattern, which changed slightly. Aim for precise, conventional language for graph descriptions, such as “rose,” “fell,” “remained relatively stable” and “the proportion living in urban areas.” More accurate collocations would make your comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including clauses beginning “Compared to…” and “which fluctuated…”. The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. For example, “the percentage … are predicted be more” has an agreement error and is missing “to”; “in first 20 years” needs an article; and “predicted to maintained” uses the wrong verb form. The long final sentence also makes the relationship between its clauses difficult to control. Practise accurate passive and prediction forms (“is predicted to rise”), subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries. Shorter, well-controlled sentences would help you retain complexity without obscuring the comparisons.

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