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 about change in percentage of population in four asian countries from 1970 to 2020 and further prediction in future

Starting from 1970 Malaysia have slightly less percentage of population than Philippines, which tend to rise in 1980, Increase in population rate becomes slower from 1980 to 1990. After 1990 their is steadily surge of line and hit its maximum value in 2040, showa highest percentage population comparatively in all other asian countries. Indonesia shows lowest perecntage of population until it reaches same value Thailand in 2000. After that their is significant increase in population and it will predict that it become second most populated city in asia in 2040. Their is swing of line in Philipines shows changes in values of up and down till 2000. After than up to 2040, values are sharpen increase. Thailand was more populated city than indonesia in 1970 and it has been stabilized until 2010. After their is rate of population increases slowly up to 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several relevant overall patterns: Malaysia finishes highest, Indonesia rises strongly, and the Philippines fluctuates before increasing again. However, the response only partially reports the graph’s main features and gives few accurate figures. For example, Malaysia’s trend is described as a “steady surge” after 1990, although it rises throughout the period; the account also says Indonesia becomes the second most urbanised country by 2040, whereas Malaysia remains highest and Indonesia is second. The Philippines’ early rise and subsequent fall are mentioned, but the overview is not clearly separated from details, and Thailand’s gradual growth is described imprecisely as stabilising. Include a concise overview and support comparisons with selected data points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is some organisation by country, and time markers such as “Starting from 1970,” “After 1990,” and “After that” help readers follow the sequence. However, the response is presented as one continuous paragraph, with no clear overview or progression from general trends to supporting details. Several transitions are repetitive or unclear, particularly the repeated use of “After” and “their,” which makes relationships between ideas difficult to track. The discussion also jumps between Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand without a consistent grouping. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and details, and organise the comparisons by shared trends—for example, the strongest growth versus the more gradual changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of trend vocabulary, including “surge,” “significant increase,” “stabilized,” and “swing,” showing some ability to describe movement. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive, and some expressions make the intended meaning unclear. “More populated city” confuses urban population share with the size of a city, while “sharpen increase” is not a natural description of a rising figure. “Swing of line” and “rate of population” are also imprecise in this context. Spelling and capitalisation slips, such as “perecntage,” “Philipines,” and “asian,” further reduce control. Build a reliable set of graph terms and use them precisely, such as “urbanisation rate,” “fluctuated,” and “rose steadily.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts longer sentences and time clauses, but control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. Subject–verb agreement is faulty in “Malaysia have” and “their is,” while tense and verb forms are problematic in “it will predict that it become” and “values are sharpen increase.” Articles and sentence construction are also weak, as in “same value Thailand” and “shows lowest percentage.” Several sentences run together without clear punctuation, making it difficult to identify the main clause and the relationship between ideas. Practise accurate simple comparisons first, then add subordinate clauses with controlled tense and agreement—for example, “Indonesia’s figure rose sharply and is projected to reach about 64% by 2040.”

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