Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The graph depicts the popution size of four states in Asia from duration 1970 to 2020 along with future prediction for 2030 to 2040. Overall, the population of Malaysia has increased over the years and even in the future followed by Thailand and Indonesia but the state Philippines had experienced fluctuations.

The population growth of the country Malaysia has shown a gradual increase trend, its total population was 30 percent in 1970 and it contnued to increase till 2040. In Thailand, the growth of population was appoximately 19 percent in 1970 and it increased to nearly 30 percent in 1990 and again it remained increased till 2040.

The state Indnesia has showed a steady increased trend on graph, at 1970 the population was almost 12 percent and afterwords it showed a significant incre in population to 2040.

The country Philippines the population growth was nearly 31 percent in 1970, then it remained steady from 1970 to 1980. In 1990, it showed a increase in population nearly 50 percent. Then it dropped to appoximately 40 percent from 2000 to 2010. In again increased from 2020 nearly 43 percent and continued to rise about 50 percent in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that Malaysia rises and that the Philippines fluctuates, and you include several relevant figures. However, the overview is incomplete: it does not highlight that Malaysia becomes the most urbanised country, while Indonesia records the strongest overall rise and is projected to reach about 64% by 2040. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the Philippines is about 45.5% in 2020, not “nearly 43 percent,” and its 2000–2010 level falls from about 45.5% to 42.5%, rather than to approximately 40%. Indonesia’s figures are also not reported beyond its starting point. Select the main comparisons and support them with accurate data to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs describing the countries. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and sequencing words such as “Overall,” “then,” and “In 1990” help show time order. However, the country-by-country organisation does not consistently bring out the most useful comparisons, and some links are mechanical or unclear. For instance, “followed by Thailand and Indonesia” does not clearly explain how those countries compare, while “In again increased” interrupts the progression of the Philippines description. Grouping countries with similar or contrasting trends, and using clearer references and transitions, would make the progression more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “gradual increase,” “remained steady,” and “dropped,” so the reader can generally understand the trends you intend to describe. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise: “population growth” is used for the share living in cities, and “the growth of population was” is not a natural way to describe the graph. Spelling errors such as “popution,” “contnued,” “appoximately,” and “Indnesia” are noticeable, while “significant incre” is incomplete and obscures meaning. Use precise terms such as “urban population share” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentence forms, including “Overall, the population of Malaysia has increased over the years and even in the future followed by Thailand and Indonesia,” but control is uneven. Errors in verb forms and sentence construction occur in phrases such as “has showed a steady increased trend” and “it remained increased till 2040.” The sentence about the Philippines beginning “The country Philippines the population growth…” lacks a clear grammatical structure, and “In again increased” is also faulty. These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise forming clear subject–verb sentences and use consistent past forms for historical data and future forms for projections.

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