Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The data illustrates the proportion of total population living in cities in four different Asian countries between 1970 to 2020, with estimations for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia has the highest percentage of people living in urban areas followed by Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Philippines experienced significant fluctuations.

In 1970, 30% of total population of Malaysia lived in cities and it grew to around 45% in 1990. Subsequently, it reached to approximately 75% in 2020 and have chances to grow till 2040. Indonesia started at around 15% and then increased to approximately 30% in 2000 before reaching its highest at almost 55% in 2020.

Philippine's 31% of people lived in cities in the year 1970 and increased to around 35% in 1980 and then directly jumped to approximately 50% of population. Ultimately, it fell in 2010 before ending at around 45% in 2020. In contrast, Thailand was initially at 19% and climbed to around 30% in 1990 and grows at a steady rate till 2020. Predictions show it can increase to around 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide a relevant overview, identifying Malaysia as the leading country and noting the Philippines’ fluctuations. The main trends are generally supported: Malaysia rises from about 30% to around 76% by 2020, while Indonesia grows strongly to just over 50%. However, the overview’s ranking is not accurate for the whole period: Indonesia does not consistently rank second, as the Philippines is higher until around 2010. Some key comparisons are also underdeveloped, especially Malaysia’s continued lead and Indonesia’s projected rise above the Philippines. The Philippines’ 1990 figure is closer to 48% than 50%, and its 2020 level is about 45.5%, so the account is broadly accurate but occasionally imprecise. Include the 2040 outlook for all four countries to make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to grouped details, and the chronology is generally easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Subsequently,” “In contrast,” and “before” help show changes over time. This gives the report a coherent overall arrangement. To make progression more consistently clear, organise the body around comparisons between countries rather than describing each series in turn, and connect the overview more closely to the details. For example, the claim that Indonesia ranks second is not supported across the period. Some transitions are also slightly mechanical, and the final paragraph ends with Thailand’s forecast without summarising the other countries’ projected positions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “fluctuations,” “climbed,” “reached,” and “predictions,” and the meaning remains clear. There is some variation in how increases and decreases are described. However, a few choices are imprecise or unnatural for a data report: “have chances to grow” is awkward, “directly jumped” is not the usual collocation, and “highest” is used where “level” or “peak” would be clearer. “Estimations” is less suitable than “projections” for future figures. Aim for precise, conventional language for trends and forecasts, and avoid repeating general verbs such as “increased” when a more exact description is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “before” and “while,” and most of the information is understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, but they rarely obstruct the message. For example, “between 1970 to 2020” combines two incompatible prepositions; use “between 1970 and 2020” or “from 1970 to 2020.” In “it reached to approximately 75%” and “have chances to grow,” the verb patterns and agreement need correction. There are also tense inconsistencies in “Thailand … climbed … and grows” and “Philippines experienced” when referring to a country. Review articles and possessive forms in phrases such as “the total population” and “the Philippines’,” while maintaining consistent past tense for historical data and future forms for projections.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.