Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the percentage of population living in cities four distinct countries Phillipines, Malaysia,Thailand and Indonesia during the year 1970 to 2020and with the predictions for future 2030 and 2040.

Overall, it is clear that Malaysia was accounted highest percentage of population living in cities. While least was observed in Thailand. In contrast, Indonesia was stood at second highest position and the Phillipines was seen fluctuating.

Looking in the year 1970, Malaysia and Phillippines were having same percentage of population approximately 31% and 30% respectively. In the year 1980, Phillippines population increases to 40% and reaches its peak 49% in 1990. and decline significantly to 40% in 2020 and predicted to increase by 2030 and 2040 of nearly 50%. whereas phillippines rises 70% in 2020 and will surge to 80% in future.

Additionally, Indonesia which stood at approximate 11% in 1970, rose to 40% of the total population 2010 and 45% in 2020 making its second largest city in terms of population. However, Thailand in 1970, was stood at 19% increases to 25% in 1990 and remain same till 2020 it was predicted to be increase 35% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in urbanisation and note Malaysia’s high level and the Philippines’ fluctuations, which are relevant features. However, several comparisons and figures are inaccurate or unclear, limiting how fully the graph is reported. Malaysia and the Philippines were not at similar levels in 1980: Malaysia was about 41%, while the Philippines was around 34%. The overview also incorrectly places Indonesia second throughout; it overtakes the Philippines only later, and Malaysia is highest by the end. Some trends are misattributed: the sentence beginning “whereas phillippines rises 70%” describes Malaysia, while the Philippines is around 46% in 2020. Thailand’s 2020 figure is about 34%, not a continuation of 25%. Select the main turning points and compare the countries accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing the data. This gives the reader a basic route through the report. However, progression within the detail paragraph is difficult to follow: the account moves from Malaysia and the Philippines to a sentence that appears to switch countries without naming Malaysia, then returns to Indonesia and Thailand. Connectors such as “In contrast,” “Additionally,” and “However” are used, but some do not clearly express the relationship between the information, and punctuation around them is often missing. Grouping the countries by their trends—for example, the strongest rises and the more moderate changes—and using clear references to each country would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “predictions,” “fluctuating,” “decline,” and “surge,” and these help convey changes over time. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the intended comparison unclear. For example, “Malaysia was accounted highest percentage” and “making its second largest city” do not express the data naturally; the graph concerns the share of people living in cities, not the size of a city. “Population increases” is also imprecise when describing a percentage. Spelling errors in “Phillippines” and inconsistent country-name spelling are noticeable. Use precise trend language such as “the proportion rose,” “reached a peak,” and “ranked second,” and check spelling consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. Examples include “during the year 1970 to 2020and,” “Malaysia was accounted highest percentage,” and “Indonesia which stood at approximate 11% in 1970, rose…” These show problems with verb forms, articles, sentence construction and punctuation. Tense and agreement are also unreliable, as in “Philippines population increases” and “it was predicted to be increase.” Several sentences run together after full stops or begin with lowercase “and” or “whereas,” making boundaries unclear. Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use past tense for recorded years and future forms for predictions. Greater accuracy in basic clauses will make your more ambitious structures easier to understand.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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