Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of the inhabitants living in four Asian countries Philippinnes, Malayasia, Thailand and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020, with projection for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population in all four counntries exceed throughout the period. Malaysia with the highest growth rate, and Thailand steadily increasing.

In 1970, the inhabitants of Malaysia was 30%, this figure rose at around 42% in 1990. Over the timeline it gradually increasing approxmietely at 72% in 2020 and it will reach at his peak position nearly 8% in 2040. In constrast, the population of Thailand begin at around 19% and slightly increased at 30% in 1990, it faced was steadily approximetely at 31% in 2010 and progesssively climb at 40% in 2040.

Indonesia inhbitants stands at 12% in 1970, over the period it was gradually increased nearly at 42% in 2010 and it will rise at 60% in 2040. The population of Philippines was 31% in 1970 and 41% in 2010, it will rise around 51% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and cover all four countries, and several broad trends are relevant: Malaysia rises strongly, Thailand increases more gradually, and Indonesia grows substantially. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “population in all four countries exceed” does not explain the urbanisation trends, and Malaysia is not consistently the highest throughout the period because the Philippines starts slightly higher. Some figures are also misreported: Malaysia is about 83.5% in 2040, not “nearly 8%,” while the Philippines is about 42.5% in 2010 rather than 41%. The account is selective and the comparisons are limited. Give a clear overview of the main rankings and changes, then support it with accurate key figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs describing groups of countries. This helps the reader follow the general topic. However, progression within the body paragraphs is sometimes difficult to track, and comparisons between countries are limited. Linking expressions such as “In contrast” and “over the period” are attempted, but some connections do not clearly express the relationship between the figures. The overview also does not prepare the reader for the details that follow. Organise the report around clear comparisons—for example, Malaysia’s high endpoint versus Indonesia’s rapid rise—and use time markers consistently so each country’s changes are easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “proportion,” “projection,” “gradually” and “increased,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems make parts of the report unclear. “Population … exceed” does not naturally describe the trend, and “peak position nearly 8%” appears to misstate the intended figure as well as use an unsuitable phrase. There are also repeated spelling errors, including “Philippinnes,” “Malayasia,” “counntries” and “approximetely.” Build a more precise set of trend expressions, such as “rose to,” “remained stable” and “is projected to reach,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses joined with “and” and time phrases such as “from 1970 to 2020.” However, the range is limited, and frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “Malaysia with the highest growth rate” is a sentence fragment, while “the inhabitants of Malaysia was 30%” has faulty agreement and an unnatural grammatical pattern. “Over the timeline it gradually increasing” also lacks a correctly formed verb, and “it faced was steadily” is not grammatically complete. Practise writing clear subject–verb sentences and use consistent past forms for historical data and “is projected to” for forecasts.

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