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 following line graph compares the proportion of population in four distinct Asian countries across the years, from 1970 to 2020 as well as includes the future predictions between 2020 and 2040.

Overall, over the seventy years. population in all four countries increased, whereas Malaysia and Indonesia showed a steady increase in their population and the population in Phillippines and Thailand gradually inclined.

During 1970, among the four countries, Phillippines and Malaysia accounted for the highest population, which was approximately 32% and 30%. However, the population in Phillippines rose slowly, despite having the highest population in 1970. In 2020, it reached almost 45% and was assumed to reach over 50% in 2040. Similarly, Thailand experienced a gradual rise reaching approximately 30% in 2020 and was predicted to increase by almost 40% in 2040

In contrast, the population in Malaysia surged over 70% during 2020 as well as predicted to reach almost 80% in 2040. At the same time, Indonesia, which had the lowest population duing 1970 experienced

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the overall upward direction and include relevant comparisons, such as Malaysia’s rise and the Philippines’ slower growth. However, the overview is not fully accurate: the Philippines fluctuates rather than steadily increasing, and Thailand’s growth is gradual only until a sharper projected rise after 2020. Some figures are also misreported: Thailand is about 33.5% in 2020, not 30%, and is projected to reach about 49.5% in 2040, not almost 40%. The account of Indonesia is left unfinished, so a major trend and its comparison with the other countries are missing. To strengthen the response, complete the final comparison and select the most important changes and rankings accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to country comparisons, and linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Similarly,” and “In contrast” help signal relationships. However, progression is weakened by the unfinished final sentence about Indonesia, which leaves the comparison incomplete. The overview also groups trends in a way that is not entirely clear, particularly when it says Malaysia and Indonesia increased steadily while the Philippines and Thailand “gradually inclined.” Some transitions are mechanical, and the paragraphing does not yet organise all four countries into a complete, balanced account. Use a clear overview followed by logically grouped comparisons, and ensure each paragraph reaches a complete point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “accounted for,” “surged,” and “predicted,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a line graph: “population” is repeatedly used where “urban population” or “proportion living in cities” is needed, and “gradually inclined” is not a natural way to describe a trend. “Highest population” also suggests total numbers rather than percentages. There are noticeable spelling errors in “Phillippines” and “duing,” and “assumed to reach” is less suitable than a forecasting expression. Aim for precise trend language and check spelling, especially in country names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “whereas,” “despite,” and “which,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. However, control is uneven. The opening sentence has an awkward construction (“from 1970 to 2020 as well as includes”), and “Overall, over the seventy years. population…” contains incorrect sentence punctuation and an unnecessary full stop. The final sentence is incomplete, ending with “experienced,” which prevents the grammatical structure from being finished. There are also tense and phrasing inconsistencies when moving between historical data and predictions. Practise complete sentence construction, punctuation between clauses, and consistent past-versus-future forms.

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