Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line chart illustrates the population proportion in four distinct Asian countries living in cities between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, all the countries experienced an increasing in the totol population during the whole timeframe especially Malasysia and Indonesia. However, Philippines saw a brief decline, but it shows upward trend over the period.

Philippines started just above 30% of total population and it was increased to about 50% by 1990, whereas the percentage dropped to approximately 40% in 2010. After that, predictions says that it will increase to reach about 50% in 2040. For Thailand, the population living in cities increased from just under 20% to approximately 30% in 1970 and 1990 respectively.Then, the percentage almost remained stable over a 30-year period, when it will increase and reach more then 40% by 2040 according to the projections.

In 1970, Malaysia's percentage of total population was 30% and it increased dramatically to reach about 80% by the end of the timeframe and ranks the highest percentage among all the four countries. However, Indonesia started with the lowest percentage by about 13% in 1970 and increased significantelly to hit 60% by 2040 and sieze the second position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and give an overview, noting the general rise and the contrasting dip in the Philippines. You also select relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s leading position and Indonesia’s rise from the lowest starting point. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the Philippines reaches about 48% in 1990, not 50%, and is around 55% in 2040 rather than 50%. Thailand rises from about 18% to 30% between 1970 and 1990; the sentence describing these figures is confusing. Indonesia is projected to reach about 64% in 2040, not 60%. The overview also says all countries increased in “total population,” rather than urban population share. More precise reporting of the main trends and endpoints would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping the countries. Comparisons such as “whereas” and “However” help signal contrasts, and the reader can generally follow the sequence from earlier figures to projections. Nevertheless, progression is uneven because the country groupings do not consistently bring related trends together, and some links are unclear. For example, “from just under 20% to approximately 30% in 1970 and 1990 respectively” makes the figures harder to interpret, while “After that” does not clearly identify the period being discussed. The overview and body also repeat broad upward-trend statements. Use clearer time references and organise the four series around meaningful comparisons, such as the highest and fastest-rising countries.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “projections,” “decline,” “remained stable,” and “percentage,” so the topic is usually clear. However, the range is limited and several word-choice or collocation errors reduce precision: “increasing in the total population” does not describe the share living in cities, and “population living in cities increased” can suggest a headcount rather than a percentage. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “totol,” “Malasysia,” “significantelly,” and “sieze.” “Dramatically” is not well supported for Malaysia’s rise without a more measured description of the trend. Build a more accurate set of terms for describing proportions, rises, falls, and forecasts, and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including comparisons with “whereas” and clauses introduced by “However” and “After that.” Meaning is often recoverable, but errors occur frequently and some sentence patterns are faulty. For example, “all the countries experienced an increasing” uses an incorrect noun form, and “it was increased” is an incorrect passive construction for the Philippines’ share. In “predictions says,” the subject and verb do not agree, while “when it will increase” creates an unclear tense relationship in a description of past data and future projections. Punctuation is also inconsistent, as in “respectively.Then.” Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and future forms for forecasts, and check agreement and sentence boundaries.

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