Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-19

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 percenstage of the population in four Asian countries living in urban areas between 1970 and 2040. Overall, it can be clearly seen that the hightest percenstage of the population living in Malaysia, in the contrast the lowest percenstage of the population living in Thailand.

Firstly, in 1970, the Indonesia in around 11% population, while in Thailand, the accounted for 19%. Philippines and Malaysia both are follow same trend at 30%. After 20 years later, in 1990, the proportion that Indonesia considerably higher than Thailand, at 21% and 28% respectively. Whereas, Philippines and Malaysia both are same, in 2020, the population in malaysia drameticaly increased at 72% and Philippines was decreased marginally. Moreover, the Indonesia was rasied around 49% and Thailand was similer trend approximatly 29%.

Finally, in last year, the highest proportion was Malaysia by 80% and Philippines and Indonesia both are same aroound 50%. in Thailand, the accounted for 45%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the general subject and attempts an overview, noting Malaysia as the highest, but the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: Thailand is not the lowest throughout, since Indonesia starts lower and Malaysia ends highest. Several figures and comparisons are misreported. For example, the Philippines and Malaysia were not both at 30% in 1970 (about 32% and 30%), and in 1990 they were not the same (about 48% and 46%). The final-year figures are also understated for Indonesia and Thailand. The response covers only selected years and gives little accurate account of the overall trends. It is also 147 words, three words below the required minimum; the nine words copied from the prompt are excluded.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation: an opening and overview are followed by paragraphs beginning “Firstly” and “Finally,” and the response moves broadly from earlier to later years. However, progression is not consistently clear. The middle paragraph jumps from 1990 to 2020, while the final paragraph refers vaguely to the “last year,” making the time sequence harder to follow. Linking expressions such as “Whereas” and “Moreover” are used, but some connections are incomplete or do not clearly show how the figures relate. Group the countries or periods more systematically, and use explicit time markers such as “By 2020” and “By 2040” to make comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “proportion,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “trend,” so the reader can recognise that it is describing a line graph. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce clarity, including “percenstage,” “hightest,” “dramaticaly,” and “similer.” Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “the Indonesia in around 11% population” and “the highest proportion was Malaysia by 80%.” Use accurate forms such as “percentage,” “highest,” and “dramatically,” and choose standard collocations like “stood at around 11%” and “Malaysia had the highest proportion, at about 84%.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a time clause beginning “After 20 years later.” However, many sentences contain errors in sentence structure, articles, agreement, or verb forms, which sometimes make the intended comparison difficult to understand. For example, “the Indonesia in around 11% population” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “Philippines and Malaysia both are follow same trend” combines incompatible verb forms. “In the contrast the lowest…” is also an incomplete construction. Practise complete comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, such as “Indonesia stood at around 14%, compared with 18% in Thailand.” Check articles and tense consistency when describing past data.

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

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