Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-17

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 the percentage of population living in the four Asian countries, namly the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, between 1970 to 2020 with the prediction of 2030 to 2040.

Overall, the proportion living in cities increased in all four countries. Malaysia had a highest ratio over the period and expected leading it on the top position. In contrast, Thailand had a fewest urban population for much of period.

In 1970, 30% of population in both Malaysia and Philippines lived in cities. Compared with 18% in Thailand and 13% in Indonesia. The figure of Philippines had same ratio in 1980 and sudden slightly growth to 50% in 2040. Whereas, Malaysia slightly grow 45% in 1990 and sudden tracjectory to 80% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and give a broad overview that urbanisation rises overall, with Malaysia becoming the leading country and Thailand remaining relatively low. However, the report only partially covers the graph: it stops in 1990 for most countries and gives just a few endpoint claims, leaving the important changes from 2000 to 2020 largely unreported. Some figures are inaccurate or unclear: the Philippines is about 32%, not 30%, in 1970, and its 1980 figure is 34%, not the same as in 1970. The claim that it grows to 50% by 2040 is also low; the chart shows about 56%. The response is 26 words below the required minimum, which contributes to its limited coverage. Select and compare more key stages, including Indonesia’s strong rise and the forecasts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph with figures. The overview also gives the reader a useful starting point by contrasting Malaysia’s high urban share with Thailand’s lower one. However, the final paragraph does not develop a clear progression through the time periods or compare all four countries consistently; it moves from 1970 to the Philippines and then Malaysia, while Thailand and Indonesia are not followed through. Linking words such as “Compared with” and “Whereas” are attempted, but the first is left as a sentence fragment and the contrast is not fully developed. Organise the details into clear comparisons, for example, grouping the strongest growth trends and then the more moderate ones.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “proportion,” “prediction,” “increased,” and “urban population,” and the main subject remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, making parts of the report awkward: “had a highest ratio,” “a fewest urban population,” and “sudden tracjectory” do not express the intended comparisons naturally. “Namly” is also misspelled, and “grow” is not the appropriate form in “Malaysia slightly grow.” Aim for precise trend language such as “rose steadily,” “climbed sharply,” and “remained the lowest,” and use standard terms like “urban population” or “proportion of residents living in cities.” These improvements would make comparisons clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a mixture of simple statements and more complex comparisons, but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in basic sentence patterns, including “between 1970 to 2020” and the fragment “Compared with 18% in Thailand and 13% in Indonesia.” The overview also has article and superlative problems in “Malaysia had a highest ratio” and “Thailand had a fewest urban population.” Verb forms are unreliable in “Malaysia slightly grow,” while the sentence beginning “The figure of Philippines had same ratio” has missing articles and an unclear structure. These errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to follow. Practise complete comparative sentences with accurate articles, verb forms, and prepositions, and check that each sentence has a clear subject and main verb.

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