Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the difference in percentage of population living in cities of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 to 2040.

Overall, the percentage of population increased over time in all four cities.Philippines has the highest population but its population decreased and Malaysia become the highest and will remained highest. Thailand population was second lowest but its population decreased and become least population city.

In 1970, Phiippines has the highest number of population accounted for around 32% after slighty increased this number reached to 33% in 1980 . In1990 there was a significant increase in population and reached at above 46%. Malaysia was the second highest population city with 30% population in 1970 as compared to Philippines its population increased rapidly and reached at 40% in 1980 .After 1990 , there was a decline in population of philippine and in 2010 it reached at around 40% as comapred to Malaysia it increased significant and reached at 70% in 2010.

Indonesia has the least amount of population in 1970 10 % as its population increased constant and reached at 25% in 2000 as compared to Thailand it was the second least city with 19% population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad topic and mention several relevant comparisons, including the Philippines’ early lead and Malaysia’s rise to the highest position. However, the overview contains major inaccuracies: all four urban shares generally rise, but you say Thailand’s figure decreases and becomes the lowest, whereas it increases throughout and remains above the Philippines’ starting point by 2040. The response also omits the later trends and forecasts for Thailand and Indonesia, and the final paragraph stops before reporting the key 2020–2040 comparisons. Some figures are misreported, such as Indonesia at 25% in 2000 rather than around 30.5%. Select the main trends accurately and cover the full period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an attempted overview and two detail paragraphs. The response also uses some sequencing and comparison markers, such as “In 1970,” “In 1990” and “as compared to.” However, progression is difficult to follow because the overview makes unclear claims and the final paragraph gives only partial information about Indonesia and Thailand. Several long sentences join multiple comparisons without clear boundaries, while spacing and punctuation around transitions are inconsistent. Organise the details into clear groups—for example, Malaysia and the Philippines, then Indonesia and Thailand—and use separate sentences to report each country’s changes. This would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “significant increase,” “decline” and “predictions,” so the reader can recognise the subject and describe basic movement. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated or imprecise: “population” is often used where “urban share” or “proportion living in cities” is intended, and “highest population city” is not a natural description of a percentage. Spelling errors such as “Phiippines,” “slighty” and “comapred” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise trend language and collocations, such as “rose to,” “fell slightly,” and “accounted for,” while checking spelling and avoiding repeated wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences with comparisons and time clauses, but control is uneven, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas harder to understand. Examples include “Philippines has the highest population” and “Malaysia become the highest and will remained highest,” where articles and verb forms are inaccurate. Past-tense reporting is also inconsistent: “has” and “reached” appear together when describing 1970, while “its population increased constant” lacks a correctly formed adverb. Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention, particularly in the long comparison sentences. Practise accurate past-tense forms for historical data and use simple, complete sentences before combining them with clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.