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)

The graph demonstrates the proportion of the population of four Asian nations living in cities from 1970 to 2020, along with forecast for the years 2030 and 2040.

Overall, Malaysia ranked at the highest Community living city over the period. In contrast Indonesia lifts a dramatic rise by the year 2040.

On the other hand, the Philippines recorded an initial rise but failed to maintain it continuously afterwards it gradually surged over the period after facing some fluctuations . While Thailand holds a gradual increase over the time nearly close to the Malaysia.

In terms of the data Malaysia peaked at the highest value over the time. In 1970 it was only 30%. Population in this city keep rising continously and it accounts for 80% in 2040. Malaysia will become the most populated city in Asia with huge population. Indonesia created a rapid grow over the time figures show that it was almost 12 to 13% in 1970. But this marginal growth of population ends off with an incredible figures it will be almost 60% in 2040.

Furthermore Phillipines population at the begning was only 30% it creates some rise from 1980 to1990 but not for so long.It faces a downfall again over the year 2010 faces off some rise again in 2020 and in 2024 its coummunity rate will be assumed at 50%.

Moreover Thailand escalated at first from 1970 to 1990 it goes from 20% to almost 30% and from 2000 its population significantly grows with a continous increase it will goes up to almost 1.5 times lower than Phillipines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting Malaysia’s high position and substantial growth in Indonesia. You also describe the Philippines’ fluctuations and Thailand’s gradual rise, so the response covers all four countries. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear: Malaysia is not highest throughout, since the Philippines is slightly higher in 1970 and 1990; the Philippines reaches about 55% by 2040, not 50% in 2024; and Indonesia is about 14% in 1970 and 64% in 2040. The claim that Thailand becomes “nearly close to Malaysia” is not supported, and the comparison that it reaches “1.5 times lower” than the Philippines is unclear. Select the main comparisons more carefully and report the forecast years accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate paragraphs and attempts to group an overview before discussing individual countries. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the overview moves from Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines and Thailand, while the later paragraphs revisit the same trends without a clear comparison structure. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand,” “Furthermore,” and “Moreover” are frequent but do not always show a meaningful relationship between ideas. Some sentences also run together, for example, the Philippines description shifts from its early rise to later decline and forecast without clear punctuation. Organise the body into logical comparisons—such as Malaysia and Indonesia, then the Philippines and Thailand—and use transitions only where they clarify the relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant trend vocabulary, including “fluctuations,” “downfall,” “gradual increase,” and “rapid grow,” showing an attempt to describe change rather than simply list figures. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “highest Community living city” and “Malaysia will become the most populated city” confuse the proportion living in cities with the size of a city or population. “Indonesia lifts a dramatic rise” and “created a rapid grow” are also unnatural expressions. Spelling errors such as “continously,” “begning,” and “Phillipines” further reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “urban population share” and standard trend verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “While” and “but,” and the overall meaning can often be understood. However, errors are frequent, and complex constructions are often faulty. For example, “Population in this city keep rising” has problems with the subject and verb form, while “it will goes up” incorrectly combines a modal with a conjugated verb. Tense use is also inconsistent when describing past data and forecasts, as in “it creates some rise” and “it will be assumed.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are unreliable, particularly in the long Philippines sentence, where several ideas are joined without clear stops. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and use “will” with the base verb, while separating each main trend into a complete sentence.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.