Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-22

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)

TO THE GRAPH SHOWS THE INFORMATION OF FOUR ASIAN COUNTRIES POPULATION FROM 1970 TO 2020,WITH FORSEE FOR 2030 AND 2040.

OVERALL, IT CAN BE EASILY SHOWED THAT ALL FOUR COUNTRIES HAS A DRAMATIC RISE IN POPULATION. HERE THE LOWEST POPULATION AND THE HIGHEST POPULATION IS AROUND 12% IN1970 AND 82% IN 2040.

MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA SAW A SLIGHTLY RISE IN POPULATION , RESPECTIVELY FROM 30 TO ABOUT 45 AND AROUND 12TO OVER 20% FROM 1970 TO 1990. AFTER THAT, BOTH COUNTRIES HAS CLIMBED RAPIDLY UNTIL NOW BEFORE BEING PREDICTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

AFTER ALMOST REMAINING IN THE 70S, PHILIPPINES PERCENTAGE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY TO REACH ABOUT 47% ON 1990 AND DROPPED TO 40% IN 2010. THEN , THIS COUNTRY FACED SLIGHTLY RISE IN 2020. MEANWHILE, THAILAND REACHED APPROXIMATE 30% IN 1990 AND SAW NOT MUCH CHANGES UNTIL 2020. BOTH 2 COUNTRIES ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE IN POPULATION IN 2030 AND 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad upward direction in all four countries and include relevant comparisons, such as Malaysia’s rise and the Philippines’ peak around 1990 followed by a decline. However, the overview is not fully accurate: the graph shows the percentage living in cities, not overall population, and the lowest figure is about 14% in Indonesia in 1970, rather than around 12%. The claim that Malaysia and Indonesia rose only slightly to 1990 also overlooks Indonesia’s subsequent sharp growth, while Malaysia had already reached about 60% by 2000. Several later figures and trends are described vaguely, and the overview does not clearly highlight Malaysia as the highest throughout the later years. Select the main contrasts more precisely and report the urban-population measure consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping countries. This gives the reader some organisation, and linking expressions such as “After that,” “Then,” and “Meanwhile” help show sequence or contrast. However, progression is not always clear because the country groupings shift between paragraphs and the first body paragraph combines Malaysia and Indonesia despite their different patterns. Phrases such as “both 2 countries” are unclear, and “until now” does not specify the year being discussed. Use a more consistent grouping—perhaps Malaysia and Indonesia as contrasting rapid-growth cases—and make each time reference explicit. Clearer links between the overview and the detailed comparisons would also improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant trend vocabulary, including “increased,” “dropped,” “climbed rapidly,” and “projected,” so the reader can follow the general direction of change. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to blur the meaning. “Population” is repeatedly used where the chart measures the percentage of people living in cities; “a slightly rise” and “faced slightly rise” are also unnatural forms. “Forsee” is misspelled, and “after almost remaining in the 70s” does not clearly describe the Philippines’ figures. Aim for precise terms such as “urban population,” “proportion,” “rose modestly,” and “remained relatively stable,” and check spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, including clauses beginning “before” and “until,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in agreement and verb forms: “all four countries has” should be “all four countries have,” and “both countries has climbed” should be “both countries have climbed.” The opening overview also has an incorrect passive construction in “can be easily showed.” Articles, prepositions, and sentence punctuation are often missing or misplaced, as in “reached about 47% on 1990” and the run-together forms “in1970” and “12to.” These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas harder to understand. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and proofread spacing and punctuation while retaining the longer sentence attempts.

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