Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-21

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 graph illustrates information about the living of cities of four asian countries between 1970 to 2020, with expectations for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is clear that population of Malaysia had grew rapidly from 2000 onwords and it is expected that it will remain first by 2024. In contrast Thailand had shown less progress throghout the years.

In 1970, approximately 30% proportion of Malaysia lived in cities and 30% of Philippines, and after 20 years it is increased to 45% and 49% respectively. in 2010 population of philippines reduced to 40% and again

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies the topic and makes an attempt at an overview, noting Malaysia’s rapid rise and Thailand’s comparatively slower growth. However, it reports only a small part of the graph and ends mid-sentence, so the main trends across all four countries and the forecast period are not adequately summarised. The claim that Malaysia will remain first by “2024” is inaccurate: the chart predicts 2030 and 2040, when Malaysia is indeed highest. Some figures are broadly close, such as Malaysia and the Philippines at about 30% in 1970, but the Philippines’ 2010 figure is closer to 42.5% than 40%. The response is also 56 words below the required minimum. Include a complete overview and key comparisons for every series.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph with figures. The sequence from the general description to specific data is understandable, and “Overall” signals the overview. However, the response stops abruptly after “and again,” leaving the final paragraph incomplete and preventing a clear progression through the graph. Comparisons are started but not developed, and the reader is not guided through the later years or the other countries. Use separate, logically ordered paragraphs for the overview and the main data comparisons, and connect changes with clear time markers such as “by 1990” and “thereafter.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing a graph, including “illustrates,” “rapidly,” “proportion,” and “reduced.” These choices show an attempt to use task-appropriate language rather than relying only on basic terms. However, several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the living of cities,” “with expectations,” and “had showed less progress”; spelling errors such as “onwords” and “throghout” also reduce precision. The range is limited, with little variety for describing rises, falls, and forecasts. Learn common collocations for data description and check spelling, while choosing precise terms such as “urban population” and “projected.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “In contrast” and a clause beginning “it is expected that.” However, verb forms and sentence construction are often inaccurate: “population of Malaysia had grew” uses an incorrect past form, and “after 20 years it is increased” has an unsuitable tense and structure. The sentence beginning “In 1970” also shifts into a lowercase “in 2010” after a full stop, and the final sentence is incomplete. These errors make parts of the account difficult to follow. Practise past-tense reporting for historical data and use “is projected to” for future figures, checking each sentence for a complete clause.

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