Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph given below illustrates data about percentage of recidence residing in four Asian countries in span of 50 years ranging from 1970 to 2020 along with the future predictions for 2030 and 2040

Overall,the graph shows the upward trend with Malaysia dominating at the end of the period

Digging deeper into the graph, Malaysia was second in the 1970 ; After 1990 people wittnesed the dramatic slurge and reaching its pinnacle of approximatly 80% highest population among all the other countries

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the broad upward trend and correctly notes that Malaysia finishes as the leading country. However, it addresses the task only minimally: it gives no meaningful account of the Philippines, Thailand or Indonesia, and does not compare their trajectories. The claim that Malaysia was “second in the 1970” is inaccurate, as it was slightly below the Philippines, while the statement that its rise began “After 1990” overlooks substantial growth from 1980 to 1990. The endpoint is also imprecise: Malaysia is projected to reach about 84%, rather than approximately 80%. The response is 68 words below the required minimum, leaving the key features substantially under-reported. Include a clear overview and select figures that show the countries’ contrasting changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the graph, a separate overview gives a main trend, and “Digging deeper” signals further detail. This provides some paragraph separation and a recognisable order. However, the progression stops after one country, so the report does not develop into a complete comparison of the four series. The linking phrase “After 1990” does not clearly connect to the preceding claim about Malaysia’s 1970 position, and the final sentence is incomplete in its coverage of the data. Build a sequence from introduction to overview and then grouped comparisons, using clear links such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “upward trend,” “dominating” and “predictions,” and attempts more descriptive language with “pinnacle.” However, the range is limited and several choices or spellings make the report less clear or less natural: “recidence,” “wittnesed,” “slurge,” and “approximatly” are inaccurate, while “dramatic slurge” is not an appropriate collocation for a rise. “Population” is also imprecise in “highest population,” since the graph measures the percentage living in cities. Use accurate trend language and vary it across all four countries, for example “rose steadily,” “fluctuated,” and “urban population share.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few different sentence forms, including an introductory clause (“The graph given below illustrates…”) and a time clause beginning “After 1990.” Nevertheless, grammatical control is uneven, and the limited number of sentences makes it difficult to show a reliable range. The opening lacks a full stop, and “Malaysia was second in the 1970” has an incorrect article and awkward time expression; write “Malaysia ranked second in 1970.” The phrase “reaching its pinnacle” is attached without a clear grammatical subject, and the final sentence lacks a complete, well-formed comparison. Check sentence boundaries, articles and clause structure, and use complete sentences to report each trend.

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