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 given line graph represents the percentage of population among four Asian countries - Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia between the year of 1970 to 2020 with a perdiction for 2030 to 2040.

The number of population of Philippines initially was around 31% and climbed to 50% by 1990 , somehow it decerse gradually across the years and will be reached approximatly at 52% in year of 2040. As compare ,Malaysia represents a steadily growth over deceads by rose from 30% to 80% from 1970 to 2040.

the percentage of Thailand surge from 19% in 1970 to about 28% in 1990 and remain almost same till 2020, Afterwards it would jump approximately about 45% in 2040. The growth of population of Indonesia steeply increased over the years, arose from 11% to about 58% in 2040.

Overall, the number of population increased amon four nations, while Malaysia shows the largest portion. However, the other countries increase respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify all four countries and include an overall statement that urbanisation rises, with Malaysia having the largest share. You also report several relevant figures and trends. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: the Philippines reaches about 48% in 1990, not 50%, and its later movement is not a gradual decline throughout, since it rises again after 2010. Thailand is broadly stable from 1990 to 2020, but its 2040 figure is closer to 50% than 45%. Indonesia reaches about 64% in 2040, rather than 58%. The overview would be stronger if it highlighted Indonesia’s rapid rise and Malaysia’s consistently high, projected lead.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the Philippines and Malaysia, another on Thailand and Indonesia, and a concluding overview. This makes the main information reasonably easy to follow. Comparisons such as “As compare” also show an attempt to connect the series. However, the progression is not always smooth: the overview appears at the end, and the country-by-country descriptions do not consistently group the most important similarities or contrasts. Some linking expressions are awkward or unclear, including “somehow” and “Afterwards,” while the final sentence repeats the general idea of increase without adding a useful comparison. Organise the body around clear trends and use more precise transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “steadily,” “gradually,” “surge,” and “steeply increased,” and the reader can generally understand the intended trends. There is some variety in how you describe change. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “number of population,” “represents a steadily growth,” and “arose from.” Spelling errors, including “perdiction,” “decerse,” and “deceads,” also reduce accuracy. In addition, “somehow” does not clearly describe a data trend. Aim for precise, conventional expressions such as “the proportion of the population,” “rose steadily,” and “increased from,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the reader can usually identify the countries and broad trends being described. However, errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction, which sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For example, “it will be reached” uses an incorrect passive form, while “Malaysia represents a steadily growth … by rose” combines incompatible structures. The opening phrase “between the year of 1970 to 2020” also has an incorrect preposition pattern, and the final overview contains “increased among four nations” without a clear grammatical construction. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and use “from … to …” for changes; then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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