Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph indicates the data about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia. Living in cities from 1970 to 2020 with indications of 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population in all countries living in cities in 1970 Philippines and Malaysia both have the almost same number of populations living in cities that increase noticeably over the given timeframe. Moreover, In the year 2020 Thailand came up with least number of populations living in the urban areas. In projected year 2040, Malaysia will have the highest

number of the population.

In 1970, Philippines and Malaysia stood at the highest number of citizens living in the urban areas, at around 30% of total citizens. However, Indonesia came with least number of populations fallowed by around 11%. The large percentage of citizens are shown by the Malasia by the year 2020 with almost 75% of the population living in developed areas. The least number recorded by Thailand with 30% population living in the cities.

In the prediction year 2040, the largest number will reserve by Malaysia which will sharply increase as compared to last decades followed by 85% of the population living in the urban areas. In contrast, Thailand will represent around 40% of the populations living in the cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four countries, include an overview, and report several relevant comparisons, such as Malaysia reaching the highest level by 2040 and Thailand being lowest in 2020. However, the overview is not fully accurate: the countries do not all rise steadily, since the Philippines peaks in 1990, declines to 2010, then recovers. Some figures are also misreported: Indonesia was about 14% in 1970, not 11%, and Thailand was about 34% in 2020 and 50% in 2040, rather than 30% and 40%. The response therefore covers the task only partially, with important trends and comparisons underdeveloped. Include the main contrasting patterns and support them with more accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs with selected data. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “In contrast” signal a comparison. However, progression is limited because the body paragraphs repeat the overview’s focus on the highest and lowest countries without systematically comparing the four trends. Some links are awkward or unclear, including “Moreover, In the year 2020” and “However” before the Indonesia figure, where the relationship between ideas is not clear. Grouping countries by trend—for example, Malaysia and Indonesia’s stronger growth versus the Philippines’ fluctuation—would create a clearer progression. Use linking expressions selectively and ensure each paragraph has a distinct purpose.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “percentage,” “urban areas,” “projected,” and “increase,” so the subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repeated or imprecise. “Number of populations” and “number of citizens” are not natural ways to describe proportions, while “developed areas” changes the meaning of “cities.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as “Malasia,” “fallowed,” and “reserve” in “the largest number will reserve by Malaysia.” These choices sometimes make the intended comparison difficult to follow. Aim for precise terms such as “proportion,” “share,” and “urban population,” and use trend verbs such as “rise,” “decline,” and “recover” accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few longer structures, including “which will sharply increase as compared to last decades,” and uses basic past and future forms to describe the chart. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. For example, “Overall, population in all countries living in cities in 1970…” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “Philippines and Malaysia both have the almost same number” has problems with articles and agreement. Tense and sentence construction are also inconsistent in “Indonesia came with least number… fallowed by around 11%.” Practise forming clear subject–verb sentences, using articles and plural forms consistently, and separating complex ideas into accurate clauses.

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