Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrate the proportion of total population by 1970 to 2020 and its prediction from 2030 to 2040 for the people living in cities of Asain countries.

Overall, its clear in graph that Phillippines witnessed most of its population is resdent in cities. Indonesia started with low but faced a dramatic incline in the cities. The city population for thailand and malaysia remain fluctuated iniatially but face a slightly incline at the end.

In 1970 the total number of people living in phillippines are 30% but over the years it faced dramatic upward trend and peaked at around 80% by 2040. Subsequently, Indonesian started off with low of 10 % by 1970 but graudally increase to 60% by the end of 2040.

Malaysian and thai people living in cities accounted for around 30 and 20 percent in 1970. Both countries population remained fluctuated for years and ended with around 52 to 45 percent in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the broad subject and attempts an overview, but key features and figures are substantially misreported, which limits how fully it addresses the task. The Philippines did not have the highest urban share throughout or reach 80%: it was about 32% in 1970 and is projected to reach roughly 56% in 2040. Malaysia is the highest by the end, at about 84%. Indonesia’s strong rise is correctly noted, but its 2040 figure is around 64%, not 60%. The closing comparison also gives Thailand and Malaysia a combined range of 52–45%, although their projected figures are about 50% and 84%. Give a more accurate overview and select representative comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable four-paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Subsequently,” and “Both countries” help connect points. However, progression is weakened because the overview and details do not consistently distinguish the four countries or accurately develop the comparisons. The final paragraph groups Malaysia and Thailand together despite their markedly different projected outcomes, and “ended with around 52 to 45 percent” is unclear about which figure belongs to which country. Use clearer country-by-country comparisons and references, and organise details around meaningful trends rather than grouping unlike series.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “proportion,” “peaked,” “upward trend,” and “accounted for,” so the main topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “Asain,” “Phillippines,” “resdent,” “graudally,” and “iniatially.” Some expressions are also unsuitable for describing percentages, such as “total number of people” and “dramatic incline”; the graph reports proportions, and “increase” or “rise” would be more natural. “Fluctuated” is repeated and does not accurately describe the steady rises in Malaysia and Thailand. Build a more precise set of trend verbs and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to use both simple and more developed sentences, including “Indonesia started with low but faced…” and the sentence beginning “In 1970… but over the years…”. However, errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and verb forms are frequent enough to make some statements difficult to interpret. For example, “The line graph illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “its clear in graph” lacks an appropriate construction and article. “The total number … are 30%” mismatches the subject and verb and uses an unsuitable grammatical pattern for a percentage. Tense and agreement are also inconsistent in “population … remain fluctuated … but face.” Practise accurate comparative sentences and maintain consistent past and future forms when describing historical and predicted data.

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