Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-18

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 6.5)

The graph compares the percentage of population in four Asian countries living in cities, namely the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia from1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the proportion of people living in cities is expected to increase in all four countries. Malaysia is projected to have the highest percentage throughout the later years, whereas Philippines and Thailand are expected to remain the least urbanized countries until 2030. In addition, Indonesia also shows a particularly significant increase after 2000.

In 1970, approximately 32% of population in the Philippines lived in cities, compared with around 30% in Malaysia. The figure for the Philippines rose nearly to 49% in 1990, before declining gradually to about 43% in 2010. It then increased again, reaching approximately 57% by 2040. Meanwhile, Malaysia experienced a substantial rise, from around 30% in 1970 to 60% in 2000. This upward trend is expected to continue, with figure reaching approximately 84% in 2040.

Turning to Indonesia and Thailand, their urban populations stood at about 13% and 18%, respectively, in 1970. Indonesia's figure rose steadily to 30% in 2000, before rising considerably to around 43% in 2010. It is forecast to reach approximately 64% by 2040. Thailand, in contrast, experienced slower growth, reaching roughly 30% in 1990 and remained relatively stable until 2020. However, its urban population is predicted to rise more rapidly, reaching about 50% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response selects the main trends and supports them with relevant figures: it notes Malaysia’s strong rise, Indonesia’s marked growth after 2000, and the Philippines’ rise and subsequent dip. The overview is clear, and most reported values are close to the chart. However, the claim that the Philippines and Thailand remain the least urbanised countries “until 2030” is not accurate: Thailand is lowest in 2030, but the Philippines is not consistently among the two lowest across the period, and Indonesia is below it in 1970 and 1980. The Philippines’ 2040 figure is also given as 57%, rather than approximately 56%. More precise comparisons at key points would make the coverage more consistently well-supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The four-paragraph structure is appropriate, moving from an introduction and overview to two groups of country details. The grouping of the Philippines with Malaysia, then Indonesia with Thailand, makes the information easy to follow, and transitions such as “Meanwhile” and “Turning to” help signal shifts. Cohesion is not always fully smooth, however: “In addition” introduces Indonesia’s rise in the overview without clearly relating it to the preceding general trend, and “their urban populations” requires the reader to infer that “their” refers to Indonesia and Thailand. Some sequencing is also slightly mechanical, with repeated country-by-country reporting. Clearer comparisons between countries at shared dates would strengthen progression and make links between details more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses an adequate range of task-appropriate vocabulary, including “proportion,” “substantial rise,” “declining gradually,” “relatively stable,” and “predicted.” These choices communicate the trends clearly, and there is some variation in how increases and decreases are described. At times, however, wording is imprecise or repetitive: “the figure” and “urban population” recur, while “least urbanized” is used for a comparison that is not consistently true. “Rose nearly to 49%” is also an awkward collocation; “rose to nearly 49%” would be more natural. Greater precision in comparative language and more controlled use of trend vocabulary would show the flexibility expected at the next level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

There is a useful mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “before,” “whereas,” and “with,” and most meanings remain clear. Some grammatical errors persist. In “from1970,” a space is missing, and “the figure reaching approximately 84%” needs an article or a different construction, such as “with the figure reaching.” The sentence “Thailand … reaching roughly 30% in 1990 and remained relatively stable” has a faulty parallel structure; use “reached … and remained” or “reaching … and remaining.” There are also missing articles in phrases such as “percentage of population” and “with figure reaching.” These are generally minor, but more consistent control of articles and verb forms is needed.

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