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 shows the percentage of the population living in cities in four Asian countries -Philipines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia- between 1970 and 2020 and forcast from the year 2030 to 2040.

It is clear that the percentages of people living in cities increased in each mentioned countries from 1970 to 2030 and predicted about gradual increase for 2030 and 2040.

In 1970, just over 30% of malaysian used to live in cities and it increased substantially to around 75% in 2020, predicted to reach over 80% in 2040. Looking at Philippines, about 30% of its population lived in cities in 1970, peaked at about 50% in 1990 before declining to around 42% in 2010 and predicted to over 50% in 2040.

As the graph shows, the percentages of people of Thailand and Indonesia who were living in cities were about 19% and 15% respectively, while both experienced a towth over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and report several relevant figures, including Malaysia’s rise from about 30% to roughly 76% by 2020 and the Philippines’ peak around 1990 followed by a decline. However, the overview is not fully accurate: it says all countries increased from 1970 to 2030, although the Philippines fell after 1990 before recovering, and it does not clearly identify the main contrasts. Thailand and Indonesia receive only a brief, general comment, with no account of their substantial later growth or comparison of their projected levels. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the overall ranking and contrasting trends, then support it with key figures for all four countries.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a general statement, and two detail paragraphs. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “Looking at Philippines” and “As the graph shows” signal a shift in focus. However, the progression is uneven: Malaysia and the Philippines receive most of the detail, while Thailand and Indonesia are left in a short, unfinished comparison. The overview also repeats the idea of increase without clarifying the different patterns. Organise the body around meaningful comparisons—for example, the high urbanisation levels in Malaysia and the Philippines versus the lower starting levels and later growth in Thailand and Indonesia—and use linking language to make those relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some appropriate task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “increased substantially,” “peaked,” and “declining,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling, or collocation problems reduce precision: “predicted about gradual increase” is awkward, “a towth” appears to be a misspelling, and “malaysian” is not the appropriate form for describing the population. “Used to live” is also less suitable for reporting chart data than a neutral phrase such as “lived.” Aim for accurate trend language and consistent formal wording, such as “is projected to rise,” “urban population,” and “the proportion of residents living in cities.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the comparison beginning “Looking at Philippines” and the clause “before declining to around 42%.” However, errors in sentence construction and agreement are frequent enough to make some statements awkward or unclear. For example, “the percentages … increased in each mentioned countries” has an agreement error, while “and predicted about gradual increase” lacks a clear grammatical subject and verb. The final sentence, “while both experienced a towth over the period,” is also incomplete in meaning and does not clearly state the trend. Use complete clauses with explicit subjects—for example, “The figures for both countries rose”—and check articles, plurals, and verb forms when joining ideas.

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