Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-20

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 tracks the rate of population in Asian countries mainly Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia during 5 decades and prediction for upcoming decade particulary for residence in cities.

Overall, the graph shows upward trend with Malaysia as highest contributing city, while Thailand will replace Indonesia becoming smallest contributing city.

In 1970, Malaysia stood with 30% population which increased to approxiately 45% in 1990. After this, it witnessed a sharp rise hitting a high of more or less 82% in 2024 marking most substantially populated country. Similarly, Indonesia follows this trend aswell rising from 13% in 1970 to just below 30% in 2000, then reached marginally 60% in 2040.

Moreover, Philippines and Thailand witnessed fluctuations during the period. Philippines contributed 32% of total population in 1970 which increased to just below 50% in 1990 marking almost the half population in 1990, This then plummed to 43% in 2010 before rieing back to 53% in 2040. This trend was followed by Thailand with 19% contribution in 1970 to 50% in 2040 but still remans the least significant contributor.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern and make relevant comparisons: Malaysia rises to become the highest, while Indonesia grows strongly and Thailand remains the lowest by the end. Several figures are also broadly accurate, such as Malaysia at about 30% in 1970 and the Philippines near 48% in 1990. However, some key details are unclear or inaccurate. Malaysia reaches about 83.5% in 2040, not 2024, and Indonesia is around 52% in 2020 before reaching 64% in 2040, rather than “marginally 60%.” The overview’s claim that Thailand replaces Indonesia as the smallest is also misleading: Thailand is already below Indonesia in 1970 and remains so. More precise coverage of the forecast period and the Philippines’ fluctuations would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to two groups of country details. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information, and transitions such as “Similarly” and “Moreover” help connect points. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately. “This trend was followed by Thailand” is unclear because Thailand’s gradual rise differs from the Philippines’ fluctuations. The overview also says Thailand will replace Indonesia as the smallest, which conflicts with the later comparison and weakens the progression of ideas. Grouping countries by their actual patterns and using clearer references would improve cohesion and make comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “sharp rise,” “fluctuations,” “plummeted,” and “marginally.” These attempts show some flexibility, and the intended meaning is usually understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for this graph: “highest contributing city” and “contributor” confuse urban population percentages with contributions, while “most substantially populated country” does not describe the measure shown. There are also spelling errors, including “approxiately,” “plummed,” “rieing,” and “remans.” Prefer direct terms such as “urban population share” and “percentage living in cities,” and check spelling carefully. More accurate collocations would make the description clearer and more appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “while” and “which,” and most of the message remains understandable. Some grammatical errors nevertheless reduce accuracy. The opening phrase “during 5 decades and prediction” is not a complete, well-formed description, and “Malaysia stood with 30% population” is missing a natural grammatical construction such as “stood at 30%.” In “This then plummed to 43% in 2010 before rieing back,” the subject and verb form are not clearly controlled, and the comma splice in the Philippines sentence joins two independent clauses. Review articles and prepositions in percentage descriptions, maintain consistent past tense for historical data, and use full stops or conjunctions to control long sentences.

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