Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The graph illustrates the information about the proportion of the population in Phillippines, Malysia, Thailand and Indonesia living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with prdications for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the figure of all four countries fluctuated over the period, althrough the general trend was upward. Malaysia recorded the highest ratio of total number of citizens and thailand was the lowest percentage.

In 1970, the Pilippines and Malaysia started the same fraction, at approximately 30%. From 1980 to 2000, the Phillippines stood at almost 45%, compared with 43% for Malaysia. In 2010, the figure for Phillippines was just under 60%, followed by 70% in 2020, while Malaysia was reported at 45% and 40% over the period. In 2030 and 2040, Malaysia and Philippines will stay at 80%, 85% and 50% and 55% respectively. From 1970 to 2000, Indonesia was measured at 25%, followed by 43% in 2010, just over 50% in 2020, whereas Thailand was stayed at almost 25%, 27% and 30% over the same period. In 2030 and 2040, Thailand and Indonesia will have recorded the share, at around 40%, 45% and 55%, 59% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic, time span and broad upward direction, and you note Malaysia’s eventual lead. However, the account contains major inaccuracies that make the key trends difficult to follow: the Philippines and Malaysia did not begin at the same level (about 32% and 30%), and the Philippines did not reach nearly 60% in 2010 or 70% in 2020. Malaysia was about 71% and 76% in those years, while the Philippines was around 43% and 46%. The overview also says Thailand was the lowest, which is true initially but not throughout, as Indonesia starts lower. Several later figures are confused or grouped unclearly. Select a few accurate comparisons and report each country’s trend consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a chronological account, with comparisons between countries. Phrases such as “In 1970” and “In 2030 and 2040” help signal time changes. However, the body paragraph packs many figures into long sentences, and the comparisons are sometimes hard to interpret. For example, “Malaysia and Philippines will stay at 80%, 85% and 50% and 55% respectively” does not clearly map each figure to a year. The discussion also shifts between country pairs without a clear grouping. Organise the details into two focused paragraphs—perhaps Malaysia and the Philippines, then Indonesia and Thailand—and use clear year-by-year comparisons and reference words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “fluctuated,” “general trend,” “approximately” and “compared with.” These choices show an attempt to describe data rather than repeat the prompt. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the figure of all four countries,” “highest ratio of total number of citizens,” and “was measured at.” Spelling errors in country names and “predications” also reduce precision. Some expressions, including “will have recorded the share,” are not natural for describing forecasts. Use standard chart language consistently, and check spelling carefully; accurate, simple terms such as “percentage,” “stood at” and “is projected to reach” would make the report clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences with time clauses and comparisons, for example, “From 1980 to 2000…” and “whereas Thailand…”. The overall meaning is often recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms recur. Examples include “Thailand was stayed,” where the passive construction is incorrect, and “Malaysia was reported at 45%,” which does not form a natural grammatical pattern. The sentence listing future values also lacks clear grammatical links between the figures and years. Use straightforward active structures such as “Malaysia stood at…” and “Thailand is projected to rise…”. Check tense consistency: use past forms for historical data and “is expected/projected to” for forecasts.

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