Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The chart illustrates about the ratio of the population in four asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, and the chart predicts the ratio in 2030 and 2040 as well. Overall, it can be seen that the highest percentage of population living in cities will be in Malaysia, whereas the lowest ratio of population living in cities will be in Thailand.

Initially, the graph clearly shows that the population in Malaysia was 30% in 1970 then it increased and will be highest in 2040 with more than 80 percent.

On the other hand, population in Thailand and Indonesia was lowest between 10 and 20% in 1970 then in 2040 it is predicted that their percentage will rise up to 40% and 60 percent.

Meanwhile, Philippines is shown in the middle in the graph with almost 31% population in 1970 and in future it will be more than 50%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and include an overview, noting Malaysia as the highest and Thailand as the lowest by the end. You also report several relevant starting and projected figures. However, the overview is incomplete: it misses Indonesia’s strong rise and the Philippines’ fluctuation, and the claim that Thailand remains the lowest is not accurate for 2040, when the Philippines is higher than Thailand. Most trends are only briefly described, with little comparison across the four countries. The response is also 14 words below the 150-word minimum, which limits the detail available. To strengthen the report, cover the main changes across the period and compare the countries at key points, using accurate end-period rankings.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear basic sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by short paragraphs about Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and the Philippines. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “On the other hand,” and “Meanwhile” help signal relationships between points. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the grouping does not fully support comparison: Thailand and Indonesia are discussed together, but their different growth patterns are not explained. The short body paragraphs also leave the report feeling underdeveloped. Organise the details into clearer comparisons—for example, countries with the highest urban shares versus those that rise most—and use references such as “this figure” or “by contrast” to connect ideas more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a graph, including “percentage,” “increased,” “predicted,” and “rise,” so the main information is understandable. However, the range is limited and some wording is imprecise or repetitive. “Ratio of the population” is not the natural term for these percentages, and “population in Malaysia was 30%” does not clearly identify the share living in cities. The repeated use of “population” and “percentage” also reduces variety. Aim for accurate graph language such as “the proportion of people living in urban areas,” and use verbs like “climbed,” “remained stable,” or “overtook” where the data supports them. Check spelling and capitalisation of country names, including “Asian” and “Philippines.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You produce several understandable sentences and attempt a range of structures, including a contrast clause with “whereas” and a time clause beginning “when.” Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “the highest percentage of population living in cities,” the noun phrase needs an article or possessive, while “the population in Malaysia was 30%” uses an unclear grammatical construction for reporting a proportion. The sentence beginning “On the other hand, population in Thailand and Indonesia was lowest” also has article and agreement problems. Tense choices are not always controlled when moving between past data and forecasts. Practise framing figures as “the proportion was…” and consistently distinguish past trends from predicted changes.

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