Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-24

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 displays the ratio of the population in four Asian nations living in urban areas from 1970 to 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040. Overall, in beginning Philippines was have the highest population and Indonesia have least population living in cities. In predictions for future Malaysia gain far more population living in urban areas and Thailand have lowest ratio of public living in cities. All four categories significantly increased in ratio of living in cities.

In 1970, Indonesia was at the lowest point in graph of people living in cities and Philippines and malaysia was at highest level in graph, respectivily around 14%, 33%, and 30%. After that in 2000, Thailand and Indonesia rose at same level around 30% of their public was living in urban areas. Malaysia rose significantly and touched 60% in 2000, whereas, Philippines also rose till in 1990 after that decreased till 2010 after that again rose, in 2000 it was reducing and reached at 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the graph’s subject and give an overview, noting that urbanisation rises overall and that Malaysia is projected to lead. You also include relevant comparisons, such as Indonesia’s low starting point and Malaysia reaching about 60% in 2000. However, coverage is partial: the response stops before describing the later figures and projections for all four countries, so the key overall pattern is not fully reported. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: the Philippines was not the highest in 1970 (it was about 32%, compared with Malaysia at 30%), and its figure in 2000 was about 45.5%, not 50%. Develop the overview and report the main changes through 2040, especially Indonesia’s strong rise and Thailand’s comparatively lower projected level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph with selected figures. Time markers such as “In 1970” and “After that in 2000” help orient the reader, and the comparison between Thailand and Indonesia is relevant. However, progression is uneven: the second paragraph moves between years and countries, then repeats the Philippines’ decline and recovery in a confusing sequence. The overview also combines several claims without clearly distinguishing historical trends from projections. Organise the body chronologically or group countries by pattern, and use clearer links between stages. For example, explain the Philippines’ rise to 1990, subsequent fall to 2010, and later recovery in one concise sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “projections,” “urban areas,” “significantly,” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural, such as “ratio of the population,” “gain far more population,” and “lowest ratio of public.” “Touched 60%” is also informal for describing a graph. Spelling errors, including “respectivily,” and inconsistent capitalisation of “Malaysia” reduce accuracy. Use standard chart language consistently, such as “proportion,” “rose to,” “fell to,” and “was projected to reach.” This would make the description more precise and natural without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sentence describing the Philippines’ rise, fall, and recovery. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Examples include “in beginning Philippines was have,” “Indonesia have least population,” and “Philippines and malaysia was,” which show problems with articles, verb forms, and subject–verb agreement. The long sentence beginning “whereas, Philippines also rose” has unclear tense sequencing and punctuation, and “reached at 50%” uses an incorrect grammatical pattern. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and agreement, and divide long sentences into shorter units. For example: “The Philippines rose to 48% in 1990, then fell to about 43% in 2010 before recovering.”

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