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 graph below illustrates information about the rate of population in four Asain countries living in cities starting from 1970 to 2020, with future predictions for 2030 and 2040.

To start with, the most increasing city in the graph is Malaysia.It will increase gradually from 30% in 1970, to about 85% in 2040 with a growth span of 35%.The most steady growth will be seen in Thailand, starting from about 19% in 1970 to about 49% in 2040, with just a growth span of 30%.

Firstly, Malaysia started from 30% in 1970, grew to 40% in 1980, gradually rose to about 45% in 1990, then kept ascending steadily till 2040 to attain a percentage of about 85%.

Secondly, Thailand started from about 19% in 1970, grew to about 29% in 1990, and grew steadily till 2020, then rose rapidly to about 49% in 2040.

In conclusion, the graph shows that both, Indonesia and Thailand were at about 29% at 2000.It also shows that both Philippines and Indonesia were at about 45% in 2010. Although, Malaysia and Philippines were almost at desame rate in 1990 it never occured.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify Malaysia as the country with the strongest overall rise and mention several relevant comparisons, including the similar figures for Indonesia and Thailand in 2000. However, the response only partially reports the graph: the overview focuses on Malaysia and Thailand, while Indonesia’s substantial rise and the Philippines’ fluctuating pattern are largely omitted. Some descriptions are inaccurate or unclear. For example, Malaysia does not rise steadily throughout: it reaches about 45% in 1990 before climbing more sharply, and the Philippines and Indonesia are not both at about 45% in 2010 (the Philippines is around 43%). The final claim about Malaysia and the Philippines in 1990 is also confusing and contradicts the data. Select the main trends across all four countries and report comparisons accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate opening, trend-description and concluding paragraphs, and sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help signal the two country descriptions. However, the overall progression is limited: the body discusses Malaysia and Thailand in detail but leaves Indonesia and the Philippines mostly to a confusing final paragraph. The conclusion introduces comparisons that are not clearly connected to the preceding account, and “Although” does not form a complete contrast in “Although, Malaysia and Philippines were almost at desame rate in 1990 it never occured.” Some linking is also mechanical, with repeated “started,” “grew” and “then.” Organise the report around an overview followed by clear comparisons, and use linking expressions only where the relationship between ideas is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “gradually,” “rose,” “ascending” and “rapidly,” so the reader can understand the general direction of several trends. However, word choice and collocation are often imprecise: “the most increasing city” does not describe a population proportion, and “growth span” is not a natural way to express the change. “Rate of population” is also less accurate than a phrase referring to the percentage of people living in cities. There are spelling and form issues, including “Asain,” “desame” and “occured,” as well as repetition of basic verbs such as “grew.” Use precise terms such as “urban population,” “proportion” and “increase,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sentence with “Although,” and most of the main trend descriptions remain understandable. However, control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences and punctuation. The final sentence beginning “Although” is not grammatically complete as written, and “Although, Malaysia and Philippines…” also lacks the article before “Philippines.” In “It will increase gradually from 30% in 1970, to about 85% in 2040,” the comma interrupts the structure, while “both, Indonesia and Thailand” uses punctuation incorrectly. There are also missing spaces after full stops. Build comparisons in complete sentences, use articles consistently, and review comma and sentence-boundary placement.

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