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 graph illustrates the comparison between the proportion of residents living in four different Asian countries between 1970 to 2020, with the estimated growth from 2030 and 2040.

Overall, population of all the countries have increased and is projected to rise by the end of the period, with Malaysia being most populated of the five countries followed by Indonesia that rose dramatically and overtook Philipines and will take the second place.

With regards to Malaysia, the percentage of the population stood at 30% in 1970 and climbed to 40% in 1990 after which it overtook Philipines and became the most populated country. For the next two decades, there was a surge in the number of people in Malaysia as the percentage rose more than 30% by 2020 and is projected to increase a further more ending at 80%. Similarly Indonesia which started from approximately 10% in 1970, climbed at a steady rate till 2000 overtaking Thailand at around 28% and the Philipines in 2010 at 45%. It is projected to grow 15% in the coming decades

In contrast, Philipines' population experienced fluctuations during the early years as it started from 31% in 1970 and peaked at around 50% in 1990 before declining by 8% in 2010. Morover it is expected to rise at a constant rate in 2030 and 2040. However, the residents of Thailand increased during the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad upward trend and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s high position and Indonesia’s rapid rise. However, the overview is inaccurate: Malaysia is not the most populated country in 1970–2040 in the sense of total population; the graph shows the share living in cities, and the Philippines is higher than Malaysia in 1990. Several details also misstate the data: Malaysia rises from about 30% to 83.5%, not merely to 80%, while Indonesia reaches about 52% in 2020 and 64% in 2040, but its projected increase is not quantified clearly. The response ends before describing Thailand’s trend, and the overview does not clearly summarise the countries’ contrasting trajectories. Select the main turning points and report them accurately, especially the forecast period and Thailand’s gradual rise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs comparing Malaysia and Indonesia with the Philippines and Thailand. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “Similarly,” and “In contrast” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is weakened by unclear or inaccurate references, such as “the five countries” when there are four, and by the unfinished final sentence, “However, the residents of Thailand increased during the”. This leaves one series without a complete account and makes the ending abrupt. Some comparisons are also crowded into long sentences, so the reader has to work to follow the timeline. Use a complete final paragraph and organise the details by clear periods or by contrasting country groups.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “climbed,” “surge,” “fluctuations,” “peaked,” and “declining.” These choices help convey movement and variation, and the meaning is generally understandable. Some expressions are imprecise or do not fit the graph: “most populated” refers to total population rather than the percentage living in cities, while “grew 15%” is unclear about whether this means percentage points or relative growth. There are also spelling errors in “Philipines” and “Morover,” and phrases such as “a further more” are not natural. Aim for precise chart language such as “urban share,” “percentage points,” and “is forecast to reach,” and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using clauses such as “after which it overtook…” and “before declining…”. Most of the intended meaning can be followed, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “population of all the countries have increased and is projected” has an agreement problem, and “between 1970 to 2020” uses an incorrect preposition pattern. The sentence beginning “For the next two decades” also shifts awkwardly between past and projected time, while “climbed at a steady rate till 2000 overtaking…” needs clearer punctuation or clause structure. The final sentence is incomplete. Keep past reporting for observed years and use future or forecast forms for later years; then proofread agreement, prepositions, and sentence endings.

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