Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The line graph gives the information about the ratio of the households in four Asian countries Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of households are living in cities Malaysia has top trend other countries. Indonesia population are living in these cities is second number in these countries.

On the other hand, Malaysia people in 1970 living in cities this ratio is 30% and in 2020 this ratio was reached 70%. After predictions in few years ago in 2040 this percentage 80%. In 1970 Indonesia people are living in cities this ratio is 15% with the predictions in 2040 this percentage was increased 65%.

Philippines population is decline in 1970 and after few years this ratio was increased. Thailand population in the time period is down and this country people less living in cities this ratio is less all countrues

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the countries and the period, and you make an attempt to summarise the overall picture. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: Malaysia is the highest by the end, but Indonesia is not consistently second, since the Philippines is higher in 1970 and 1990. The claim that Thailand’s figure “is down” is also incorrect; it rises throughout, from about 18% to 49.5%. Several figures are imprecise, including Malaysia at about 76% in 2020 rather than 70%, and the response does not clearly compare all four trends. The response is 141 words, below the 150-word minimum; 13 words copied from the prompt were not counted. Add a clearer overview and accurate key comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation: you introduce the graph, give an overview, and then discuss Malaysia and Indonesia before mentioning the other countries. This provides a recognisable structure, but the progression is difficult to follow because the country comparisons are not grouped or developed consistently. For example, “On the other hand” does not introduce a clear contrast, and the final sentence combines the Philippines and Thailand without explaining their separate trends. References such as “this ratio” are repeated and sometimes make it unclear which figure or country is meant. Use one paragraph for the overview and organise the details into clear comparisons, with linking phrases that accurately show contrast or change.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the topic and name the countries, and terms such as “predictions” and “percentage” are relevant. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the description awkward or unclear. “Ratio of the households” does not accurately describe the chart, which shows the percentage of the population living in cities; “top trend” and “second number” are also imprecise. There are spelling errors, including “countrues,” and repeated use of “this ratio” limits precision. Aim for standard chart language and varied verbs for movement, such as “rose,” “declined,” “remained stable,” and “is projected to reach.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, but control is inconsistent, and errors frequently make the relationships between ideas difficult to understand. For example, “the percentage of households are living in cities Malaysia has top trend” has problems with sentence structure and subject–verb agreement. In “in 2040 this percentage 80%,” the verb is missing, while “with the predictions in 2040 this percentage was increased” uses an awkward tense and passive construction. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or misplaced. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent past tense for historical data and “is projected to” for future figures.

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