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 compares four different asain countries in terms of population percentage from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the graph gives information about population size which is dramatically increase till 2040. The most dramatic increase of population is seen in Malaysia.

From 1970 to 1980, the philippines population is static to about 32% with an increase of 50% till 1990. Moreover, 40% of the population size is measured till 2010. While there is a prediction about the population size . It can be increased to about 57% from 2020 to 2040.

On the other side, Malaysia population is increased from 1970 to 1990 in terms of 30% to 45% which become static. Furthuremore, There is dramatic increase in population of about 77% in 2020 with a prediction of high to about 80% in 2040.

However, the thialand population is getting increase from 19% to 29% till 1990. Then it become levelled of till 2020. Although the prediction about population size in 2040 is increased to 49%.

At the end, the Indonesia population is getting increase slowly from 12% to 50% in 2020 with a prediction of increase about 60% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad upward trend and note Malaysia’s strong growth, while covering all four countries and including some figures. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the graph shows the percentage living in cities, not population size, and Malaysia does not rise continuously at the same rate. Several details are misreported or too vague. For example, the Philippines is about 32% in 1970 and 34% in 1980, not static; it peaks near 48% in 1990, then falls before rising again. Malaysia continues to increase after 1990, reaching about 76% in 2020. Thailand rises gradually rather than remaining level through 2020. Select the main contrasts accurately and describe the urban-population measure throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the countries. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, with transitions such as “On the other side,” “However,” and “At the end” used to introduce each series rather than to show meaningful comparisons. Some references are unclear, particularly “which become static” and “there is a prediction about the population size.” Grouping countries by contrasting trends—for example, Malaysia’s high urbanisation and Indonesia’s rapid rise—would create a clearer comparison. Ensure each paragraph develops a connected point, and use linking expressions only where their relationship is accurate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant language for describing trends, including “dramatic increase,” “static,” “levelled,” and “prediction.” This gives you a basic range for reporting changes, but repeated use of “population size” and “increase” makes the account imprecise and repetitive. Several word choices or collocations are inaccurate: the graph concerns the proportion of people living in cities, not population size, and “population is getting increase” is not a natural way to describe a trend. Spelling errors such as “asain,” “Furthuremore,” and “thialand” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of terms for proportions and movement, such as “urban share,” “rose,” “declined,” and “levelled off,” and check country names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including an overview and clauses introduced by “while” and “although,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some statements difficult to interpret: “population is dramatically increase,” “it become levelled of,” and “the prediction … is increased” need corrected verb patterns. Articles and possessives are also often missing or misplaced, as in “Malaysia population” and “the Philippines population.” Some punctuation creates incomplete or awkward sentences, including “While there is a prediction about the population size.” Practise accurate past-tense descriptions for historical data and “is predicted to” for forecasts, while checking subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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