Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-28

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)

This line graph illustrates that the percentage of population across four asian countries (philippines, malaysia, thailand and indonasia) living in cities spanning from 1970 to 2020.

Overall, it can be clearly seen from line graph that malaysia was the top most country with highest population whereas, thiland was the lowest country population with minuimum ratio of population.

In malaysia, in 1970, poplation was 30% that had increased untill 48% in the year of (1990) before reached at maximum level to gain 82% in the year of 2040. Overall, malaysia was on top. But, As we go for other countries, for philipines nand thailand, the rate of [opulation in 1970 was 19 and 32% but thenit dramatically increased and in 1990, the population was 50 and 25 percent nad at the end of 2040, the population willbe 50 and 40 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the general subject and include an overview, noting Malaysia’s high position and Thailand’s low figures. However, the overview is inaccurate: Thailand is not the lowest throughout, and Malaysia is not the country with the highest population; the graph measures urban population percentages. Several figures and comparisons are also misreported. For example, the Philippines and Thailand are given as 19% and 32% in 1970, whereas the chart shows about 32% and 18%; the 2040 figures are also reversed or inaccurate. Indonesia, whose rise is a major feature, is omitted. The response is only 140 words, below the required 150. Select the main trends accurately and support them with correct comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview, and a paragraph describing figures. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “In Malaysia,” and “But” help signal movement between points. However, the progression is difficult to follow because several countries and years are combined in long, unclear sentences, especially the final sentence. The overview also repeats the claim that Malaysia was “on top” without adding a new comparison. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and key details, then group countries by trend or compare them at selected years. Clearer sentence boundaries and more precise references would make the information easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant chart vocabulary, including “percentage,” “increased,” “maximum level,” and “ratio,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “highest population” for the highest urban share and “minimum ratio of population.” Repetition of “population” also makes comparisons less precise. Spelling errors—including “indonasia,” “thiland,” and “poplation”—are noticeable and can distract the reader. Build a small set of accurate terms for describing proportions and trends, such as “urban share,” “rose steadily,” and “declined slightly,” and check country names and key vocabulary before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a time clause in “in 1970 … that had increased” and a contrast introduced by “But.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors recur in articles, verb forms, agreement, and punctuation. For example, “the percentage of population” needs an article or possessive, while “before reached at maximum level” lacks a correctly formed verb pattern. The final sentence joins several comparisons without clear grammatical structure, making the figures hard to interpret. Practise writing one accurate sentence for each trend, using consistent past tense for historical data and future forms for predictions, before combining ideas.

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