Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-25

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 graph illustrates information about the percentage of population in four asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia will rank the highest in future followed by indonesia when it eventually overtakes Phillippines and Thailand. Thailand, which was higher then Indonesia will be at the bottom. The population in Malaysia and Phillippines fluctuated at the start of period but it gradually declined in Phillippines while rose in Thailand.

In 1970, the percentage of the population living in cities was the lowest in Indonesia. It was merely 12%. Thailand's population percentage was 19%. Phillippines ranked the highest with 31% while Malaysia was at 30%. In 1980, The percentage of population grew gradually and reached 13% in Indonesia, 21% in Thailand, Indonadia remained unchanged with 31% and Malaysia reached 40%. In 1990, Indonesia rose to about 21%, Thailand to 30%, Phillipines had a rapid increase and climed up to 49% and overtook malaysia. In 2000, Indonesia and Thailand both were at 30%, Phillipines at 46% and Malaysia at 60%.

Furthermore, both Indonesia and Phillippines percentage of population in living cities was approximately 40%, 30% in Thailand and 70% in Malaysia. All the proportions will keep rising and thailand will stay in lead in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and include some relevant comparisons, such as Malaysia rising from about 30% to 60% by 2000 and the Philippines peaking around 1990 before falling. However, the overview contains major inaccuracies: Indonesia overtakes the Philippines and Thailand, but it does not overtake Malaysia; Thailand is not at the bottom in 2040, as the Philippines is lower. The claim that Malaysia and the Philippines fluctuate “at the start” is also unclear, and the final paragraph gives approximate 2010 figures without naming the year. Several reported figures are substantially wrong, including Indonesia’s 1970 and 1980 levels. Select the main trends accurately and cover the later years with clear comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and chronological detail, so there is a basic attempt to organise the information. The sequence from 1970 to 2000 is generally easy to follow, and “Furthermore” signals a move to later data. However, the overview is difficult to interpret because it combines inaccurate rankings and trends, while the final paragraph does not state which year its figures describe. The account also stops moving clearly through the timeline after 2000, leaving the 2020 and forecast years insufficiently organised. Use a clearer structure: overview first, then group early trends and later/forecast comparisons, with accurate time references and linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related language, including “percentage,” “overtook,” “fluctuated,” “gradually declined” and “rapid increase.” These choices help describe movement and comparison, and the meaning is usually recoverable. However, some wording is imprecise or repetitive: “population percentage” and “percentage of population in living cities” are awkward, while “rank the highest” is less natural than language for proportions. There are also spelling errors in country names and words such as “climed,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart vocabulary and consistent spelling; for example, use “the urban population share” and “rose to” or “accounted for” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the relative clause “Thailand, which was higher then Indonesia…” and the time sequence beginning “In 1990.” However, control is uneven, and several sentence patterns are faulty or incomplete. For example, “The population in Malaysia and Phillippines fluctuated … but it gradually declined” has unclear agreement and reference, while “both Indonesia and Phillippines percentage … was” has problems with possessives and subject–verb agreement. Tense use also shifts between past reporting and future prediction without always matching the period. Practise accurate noun phrases, articles and agreement, and check that each sentence has a clear subject and verb before adding complex clauses.

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