Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-27

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 6.0)

The graph provides the information about the proportion of the population living in cities in four different Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, In Indonesia and Malaysia the percentage of population living in cities was higher as compared to Thailand and Philippines in 1970 and goes on increasing over the time.

In philippines, almost 31% of the population was living in the cities in 1970, which rose to 50% in 1990. After that it declined to almost 42%, before incresing to 45% in 2020. There are predictions that it will be at 60% in 2040. Malaysia was almost at the same level, standing at 30% in 1970. It kept on increasing and reached at almost 73% in 2020. It's population is projected to go to almost 82% in 2040.

Thailand and Indonesia was considerably low in proportion of population living in cities as both stood at 19% and 13% respectively in 1970. In 2020, the percentage in Indonesia was quit high at 51% as compared to Thailand, which was at 31%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and cover all four countries, with useful figures for the Philippines and Malaysia and a comparison between Thailand and Indonesia in 2020. However, the overview is not fully accurate: in 1970, Malaysia was highest, but Indonesia was not higher than the Philippines; the Philippines stood at about 32%, compared with Indonesia at 14%. The account also omits the substantial rise in Indonesia after 1990 and its projected lead over the Philippines by 2040. Some reported figures are imprecise, such as the Philippines reaching 50% in 1990 and 60% in 2040, but the larger issue is selective coverage and an unclear overall summary. Highlight the main rankings and contrasting trends more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs grouping the Philippines with Malaysia and Thailand with Indonesia. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. Sequencing within the country descriptions is generally chronological, and phrases such as “After that” and “In 2020” help signal changes. However, the overview’s comparison is confusing, and the final paragraph stops at 2020 rather than completing the forecast period. Some links are also mechanical or unclear, particularly “as both stood at 19% and 13% respectively,” where the country-to-figure mapping requires careful rereading. Improve progression by giving a concise, accurate overview first, then consistently covering past trends and forecasts for each group.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “declined,” “predictions,” “projected,” and “stood at,” so the main trends are usually understandable. There are also some imprecise or unnatural choices: “higher as compared to” is wordy, “reached at” is not the natural collocation, and “population was quit high” contains a spelling error and an awkward phrase. Capitalisation of country names is inconsistent, and “kept on increasing” is less formal than a concise trend verb. These issues do not prevent understanding, but greater precision and more natural collocations would strengthen the report. Prefer expressions such as “was higher than,” “reached,” and “rose steadily.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some longer structures, including “After that it declined … before increasing …,” and most relationships between ideas remain understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur. The overview has faulty comparison and agreement in “the percentage … was higher … and goes on increasing,” while “Thailand and Indonesia was” should use a plural verb. Articles and sentence punctuation also need attention: “In philippines” requires a capitalised country name, and “Overall, In Indonesia” has incorrect capitalisation after the comma. The sentence “as both stood at 19% and 13% respectively” is grammatically possible but awkwardly constructed. Check subject–verb agreement, maintain consistent past and future forms, and proofread punctuation and sentence openings.

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