Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the population of four Asian nations living in urban areas from the years 1970 to 2020, with additional predictions for 2030 and 2040. The data is presented in percentages and the years are shown in 10 year intervals. The nations covered in the graph are Phillippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Overall, the urban population in all of the countries have increased tremendously since 1970, while the future predictions also following the trend. The percentages for Malaysia differ by a large margin from the other nations and ranks as the highest proportion of people living in the cities. Comparatively, the other nations place near each other, while Thailand being on the lower end of the three.

For Malaysia, the percentage started off with a notch just below Philippines of 30 percent in 1970. With a slight increase, it overtook Philippines in 1980 but a dip to 43 percent in 1990 made it a close second. Finally, by a major leap to nearly 60 percent in 2000, it heralded its position as first amongst its peers. This increasing trend kept on going to 2020 and the predictions in 2030 and 2040 also follow that rise in proportions.

After 1990, the numbers kept on decreasing to 42 percent for Philippines in 2010. The fall stabilized and went on a slight increase in 2020. The future prediction keep this rise till 2040.

The highest amount growth can be seen in Indonesia where it was below in the table with a measly 12 percent in 1970 and quickly rised up to become the second highest percentage of 50 percent in 2020. The forecast predicts this will keep on increasing upto 60 percent in 2040.

Thailand had an overall dissapointing growth from 19 percent in 1970 and reached 30 percent in 2020. Like others, it is suggested it will keep on increasing at a higher rate in the future

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall upward direction and correctly note Malaysia’s eventual lead, Indonesia’s strong rise, and the Philippines’ decline after 1990 followed by recovery. However, some key details are inaccurate: Malaysia rises from about 45.5% in 1990 to 60% in 2000, rather than dipping to 43%; Thailand reaches about 33.5% in 2020, not 30%; and Indonesia is about 14% in 1970 and 64% in 2040, rather than 12% and 60%. The overview also overstates that all countries increased “tremendously,” since Thailand’s growth is comparatively gradual. The main trends are relevant, but several comparisons and figures need more precise reporting, and some country descriptions are less fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs discussing the countries. This makes the information generally easy to follow. However, the progression is not consistently smooth. The Malaysia paragraph says it “overtook Philippines in 1980” and then describes a “dip” in 1990, which disrupts the account because the data actually continues to rise. The Philippines paragraph is brief and begins abruptly with “After 1990,” without clearly naming the subject at the outset. Linking phrases such as “Finally,” “After 1990,” and “Like others” help connect ideas, but some are mechanical or imprecise. Grouping countries by comparable trends and using clearer references would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “overtook,” “stabilized,” “forecast,” and “proportion,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more expressive wording, such as “heralded its position” and “measly,” but these are not always suitable for a neutral academic report. Some collocations are awkward: “highest amount growth” and “increasing trend kept on going” could be expressed more precisely. Spelling errors such as “Phillippines,” “rised,” “upto,” and “dissapointing” also reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional chart language and check spelling, while retaining the useful range of trend vocabulary already demonstrated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “where,” and most sentences remain understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In the overview, “the urban population … have increased” has a subject–verb agreement problem, and “the future predictions also following the trend” lacks a finite verb. “Thailand being on the lower end” is also an incomplete construction in this context. Tense and sentence control are uneven in phrases such as “The future prediction keep this rise” and “it heralded its position,” where the verb forms do not fit the surrounding account. Review agreement, complete clauses, and consistent past-tense reporting, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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.