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 line graph illustrates the changes in the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020 with the prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of people living in cities are increasing constently year by year in all four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 with the prediction for 2030 and 2040. The major changes is seem in Malaysia where most of the people are willing to stay in cities area. Where in other countries like Thailand and Philippines are also increasing but the changes in Indonesia is very high it will contiune as in the future as well.

In 1970 people are not willing to live in cities the percentage is to low. For countries, Philippines with nearly 32%, Malaysia with 30%, Thailand with just below 20% and Indonesia with in between 10% and 20%. But in 2020, the diverse changes are shown in every countries. And mainly Indonesia in 1970 it have only nearly 15% but in 2020 it become 50% of its total population living in cities and same as for Malaysia more than 70% of its total population living in cities.

As the data given for upcoming times like 2030 and 2040, it also show the same trend of increasing of people living in cities area. As the prediction in 2030, peoples in Philippines will be 50%, Malaysia will be more than 80%, Thailand will reach near 50% and Indonesia will be more than 60% will live in cities. And the same rate of increament will follow in the year 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the time span, include a general overview, and report several relevant figures, especially the rise in Indonesia from about 14% to 52% and Malaysia’s high level in 2020. The future estimates are also broadly represented. However, the overview is not fully accurate: urbanisation does not increase steadily in every country throughout 1970–2020, since the Philippines rises to around 48% in 1990 before falling to about 42.5% in 2010. The claim that people were “not willing” to live in cities is unsupported; the graph shows proportions, not people’s preferences. Some comparisons and changes are mentioned only generally, and the 2040 figures are not reported individually. Select the main contrasts and describe them precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, historical figures, and a paragraph on forecasts. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and several linking expressions are awkward or repetitive, such as “But in 2020,” “And mainly Indonesia,” and “As the data given for upcoming times.” The overview also combines several points without clearly distinguishing Malaysia’s high urban share from Indonesia’s rapid growth. Improve cohesion by grouping countries with similar patterns and using clear comparisons, rather than relying on repeated “and” or “as” openings. More precise referencing would make the relationships between years and countries easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage,” “prediction,” “total population,” and “increasing,” so the topic remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “willing to stay in cities area,” “diverse changes,” and “same rate of increament.” “Willing” incorrectly suggests a preference that the graph does not measure, while “changes” is too vague when describing specific trends. Spelling errors such as “constently,” “contiune,” and “increament” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of terms for describing proportions and trends, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to process. For example, “the percentage … are increasing” should use a singular verb, while “The major changes is seem” has problems with both agreement and verb form. In “Indonesia in 1970 it have only nearly 15%,” the sentence structure and tense are faulty; a clearer form would be “Indonesia had only about 14% in 1970.” Several sentences also begin with fragments such as “Where in other countries…” or “As the prediction in 2030…”. Practise complete clauses and consistent past and future forms.

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