Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

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

Initially, in year 1970, the population living in cities is philippines which is about more than 30% of the entire population and other countries are less populated in cities than philippines such as, indonesia has the least population in the cities about only 12%. However, in 1980 Malaysia population is increased in cities around 40% and indonesia are still on the lowest of only 15% of the population in cities. Moreover, in upcoming years the population of Malaysia in cities gradually increrased upto almost 80% in year 2030 also the population of Indonesia increased to almost 60% and the lowest is thiland which is only 30% of the entire population living in the cities.

Furthermore, in year 2040 the population of Malaysia is still on the peak of about more than 80% of the entire population living in cities and only 20% living in rural areas while in Thailand only about less than 50% of people living in cities and the rest of people live in rural areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and report some relevant comparisons, including the Philippines being highest in 1970, Malaysia’s strong rise, and Thailand remaining comparatively low. However, the response only partially summarises the graph: it gives no clear overview of the main trends across all four countries and omits important features, especially Indonesia’s rapid growth and its overtaking of the Philippines by 2010. Some figures are inaccurate or unclear: Indonesia is about 14% in 1970, not 12%, and Thailand is around 40% in 2030, not 30%. The discussion also jumps between selected years rather than reporting the main changes across the period. A concise overview and accurate comparisons at key points would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it moves broadly from earlier years to later years and uses paragraph breaks, while connectors such as “However,” “Moreover,” and “Furthermore” signal changes in direction. Nevertheless, the progression is not consistently clear because several years and countries are grouped together without explaining how their trends compare. The first paragraph moves from 1970 to 1980 and then to future figures, leaving much of the intervening period unclear. Some linking is mechanical, and the repeated “population living in cities” phrasing makes the relationships between points harder to follow. Organise the report into an overview followed by paragraphs comparing the countries’ trends, and use references such as “this figure” or “by contrast” precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the general subject, including “percentage,” “predictions,” “increased,” and “living in cities.” There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “gradually increased” and “on the peak.” However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural, including “less populated in cities,” “the lowest is thiland,” and “on the peak.” Spelling errors such as “philippines,” “indonesia,” “thiland,” and “increrased” also reduce accuracy. Use standard country-name capitalisation and choose precise trend language, for example “urban share,” “rose steadily,” or “recorded the highest proportion.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, using clauses introduced by “which,” “such as,” and “while,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in agreement and verb forms appear in phrases such as “Malaysia population is increased” and “indonesia are still,” while “the population living in cities is philippines” has an unclear sentence structure. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “in year 1970” and “in upcoming years.” These problems can make comparisons difficult to interpret, although the general meaning is usually recoverable. Practise accurate simple comparison patterns first, then combine them with controlled clauses: “In 1970, the Philippines had the highest urban proportion, at about 32%.”

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