Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

The provided chart illustrates the figures of the individuals in four Asian nations residing in cities from 1970 to 2020, with estimated for 2030 to 2040.

Overall, the country which has highest percentage of population from 1970 to 2040 with estimated figures is Malaysia, while the land on earth which has most least amount of residents from 1970 to 2040 with prediction is Thailand. According to estimated figures Malaysia would have 80% total population of the earth, furthermore the country which should have lowest percentage of population in the world in 2040 about 45% is Thailand.

Thailand which has the most residents in 1970 according to given reports is 30% which was one of the highest figures in the world and with predictions it would be around 80% population in 2040. Indonesia has the lowest number of population in 1970 which was only 13% and according to the estimated figures it would be 60% in 2040 which is nearly about Philippines. The country which has the lowest number of population in 2040 is Thailand which is about 40%.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response3.5
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource4.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response attempts an overview and includes several figures, but it misreports the graph’s central comparisons, which substantially limits how well it fulfils the task. Malaysia is correctly identified as the highest overall, but Thailand is not the highest in 1970: the Philippines was about 32%, compared with Thailand at 18%. Thailand is also not projected to reach 80%; that figure belongs to Malaysia, while Thailand is forecast at about 50% in 2040. The claim that Thailand is the lowest throughout is inaccurate, since Indonesia starts lowest and Thailand is only the lowest by 2040. To improve, select the main trends accurately and compare the four countries across the period, rather than repeating contradictory claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview, and further details, and it uses linking expressions such as “Overall,” “while,” and “furthermore.” However, progression is difficult to follow because the same 2040 comparison is repeated and some statements contradict one another. For example, Thailand is described as the lowest in the overview, then as having the highest figure in 1970, and later as reaching around 80% in 2040. The final sentence repeats the claim that Thailand is lowest in 2040. Organise the body by clear comparisons or trends, and use each paragraph to add distinct information. More accurate referencing would also make the relationships between countries easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

There is some relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “estimated figures,” “residents,” and “predictions,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, word choice and collocation are often awkward or repetitive. Phrases such as “the figures of the individuals,” “land on earth,” and “most least amount” are not natural ways to describe this graph; “urban population” or “share of the population living in cities” would be more precise. “With estimated for 2030 to 2040” also uses an incorrect form. Repeated use of “country,” “population,” and “percentage” limits range. Aim for concise, accurate trend language such as “rose,” “declined,” “remained stable,” and “was projected to reach,” while avoiding claims about the population of the whole earth.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response shows attempts at complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “which,” and most of the intended meaning can be understood. However, grammatical control is uneven. The opening sentence has an incomplete construction in “with estimated for 2030 to 2040,” and the overview contains agreement and article problems in “the country which has highest percentage.” The sentence beginning “Thailand which has the most residents…” is also difficult to parse because its clause structure is not clearly controlled. There is some effective use of past and future forms, such as “was” and “would have,” but these are not consistently applied to the data. Use shorter, complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses only when their relationships are clear.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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