Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-16

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 illustrates data about the number of population in four Asian countries living in urban areas between 1970 to 2020 and also gives prediction about 20230 and 2040.

Overall, the chart gives comparison between Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Throught the given time period all the nations sees an upward trend of people moving to cities. Malaysia is having sharp inrease in population moving to cities.

Malaysia, started at 30% in 1970, had a steady increase in until 1990, which was followed by sharp incline close to 80% in 2020 and predicted to move with same pace and with reach close to 90% in 2040. Indonesia was at almost 15% in 1970, having a constant increase and reached at 50% in 2020 and is predicted to reach close to 70% by 2040.

Thailand was close to 20% in 1970, while Philippines was at around 30%. Thailand's population increased gradually till 1990 to almost 30%, while Phillppines remained steady until 1980

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four countries and report several relevant figures, including Malaysia’s rise from 30% to about 76% by 2020 and Indonesia’s growth from roughly 14% to 52%. However, the overview is too broad: saying all countries show an upward trend misses the Philippines’ fall after 1990 and its later recovery. The claim that Malaysia’s increase was sharp throughout is also imprecise, as its growth was more gradual from 1970 to 1990. The account of the Philippines stops mid-comparison, and Thailand’s later figures are not covered. Include the main contrasts across the full period and describe the projected rankings more clearly to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs that group countries for comparison. The use of “Overall,” “while” and “while” helps signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is incomplete: the final paragraph ends after saying the Philippines “remained steady until 1980,” leaving the comparison unfinished and the later trends unconnected. Some information is also presented as a sequence of figures rather than being linked into a clear comparison. Organise the body around the countries’ contrasting patterns—for example, Malaysia’s high projected level versus Thailand’s slower rise—and use linking phrases to guide the reader through each period.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “upward trend,” “steady increase,” “sharp incline” and “gradually.” These choices show an attempt to vary the language beyond simply repeating “increase.” However, several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, such as “number of population,” “gives prediction,” and “Malaysia is having sharp increase.” Spelling errors, including “Throught,” “inrease” and “Phillppines,” also reduce accuracy. Choose standard collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, refer to the “proportion of the population” and say that a figure “is projected to reach” a level. More precise trend vocabulary would also help distinguish steady growth from fluctuations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex structures, such as “which was followed by…” and comparisons using “while,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in basic sentence patterns and verb forms: “all the nations sees” should use a plural verb, while “Malaysia, started” has an unnecessary comma and an incomplete construction. The phrase “had a steady increase in until 1990” is also grammatically faulty, and the final sentence is unfinished. These problems sometimes make relationships between events difficult to follow. Practise complete sentences with consistent tense, accurate subject–verb agreement and clear clause boundaries. A wider range of structures will be more effective once these basic patterns are controlled.

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