Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The liine grph illustrates the proportion of inhabitants living in four different Countries Philppines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from 1970 to 2020, with the projection for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, every city showed a significant growth througout the period. Malaysia with highest percentage ratio and Thailand was steadily increasing

In 1970, the population of Malaysia was 30%, it gradually rose at around 60% in 2000, over the period it considerably increasing 72% in 2020 and it will inrease approximetely 82% in 2040. In contrast, Philippines inhabitants begin with 31%, it fluctuated and sharply rose nearly 50% in 1990, then declined to 42% in 2010. It will stand at 55% in 2040.

Indonesia starting with lowest citizens with approximetely 12% in 1970 and progressively increased at 50% in 2020. It will represented at 61% in 2040. LIkewise, Thailand population was 19% in 1970 and it also went up gradually nearly 30% in 2020 and it will rise at approximetely 44% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall upward movement and make relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s high level and the Philippines’ rise and subsequent fall. Most figures are broadly consistent with the graph, such as Malaysia reaching about 60% in 2000 and the Philippines declining to around 42% in 2010. However, the overview is incomplete: it does not clearly highlight Indonesia’s strong growth or distinguish Malaysia as the highest by the end from the Philippines’ fluctuations. Some details are also inaccurate, notably Thailand at about 30% in 2020 (it is closer to 34%) and Indonesia at about 50% in 2020 (closer to 52%). A clearer overview and more precise selection of key comparisons would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The country groupings and time references help the reader follow the main trends, and linking phrases such as “In contrast” and “Likewise” show an attempt to connect comparisons. However, the overview is brief and its ideas are not fully connected, while the detail paragraphs move between countries without a consistent comparison pattern. Some references are unclear, as in “every city showed” and “it will represented,” making the relationships between subjects and trends harder to follow. Organise the details more deliberately—for example, compare the two higher series first, then the lower series—and use clear references to each country.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “projection,” “fluctuated,” “declined” and “progressively increased.” These choices help describe changes rather than merely list figures. However, several word-choice and collocation problems reduce precision: “percentage ratio” is unnatural, “every city” does not accurately describe the data, and “starting with lowest citizens” is unclear. Spelling errors such as “liine,” “approximetely” and “inrease” are also noticeable, alongside inconsistent capitalisation. Aim for accurate, conventional phrases such as “the proportion of the population living in cities” and “began at the lowest level,” and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including comparisons introduced by “In contrast” and “Likewise.” The main trends are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships unclear. For example, “Malaysia with highest percentage ratio” is not a complete sentence, and “over the period it considerably increasing” has an incorrect verb form. There are also problems with tense and sentence construction in “It will represented at 61%” and “Philippines inhabitants begin with 31%.” Use complete clauses, maintain past tense for historical data and future forms for projections, and check articles and subject–verb patterns. More consistently accurate sentences would strengthen the report.

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