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 line graph compares the percentage of population in four asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020. Moreover, it also predicts the change in that percentage in years 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the population in cities increased in all four countries with Philippines facing a bit fluctuations. As for the years 2030 and 2040 the urban population is predicted to increase in all four countries of Asia.

The percentage of urban population rised significantly in Malaysia reaching up to almost more than 75% in 2020 and will rise up to 85% by 2040. Although Indonesia has least urban population in 1970 with almost 13% but it increased significantly and reached to 50% by 2020 and will climb to 60% by 2040, following that Thailand had almost 19% urban population which was just 6% more than Indonesia which increased to almost 29% by 2000 coinciding with thailand in same year. However, it increased slightly by just 1% by 2020 and is predicted to climb amlost 48% by 2040. Philippines has entirely different story, it has more urban population than other 3 countries in 1970 (32%) which climbs to almost 50% in1990. Although after 1990, the urban population in Philippines declined to 42% by 2010 and then it starts to increase gradually after 2010. eventually it will reach up to 50% by 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the graph’s subject and give an overview that captures the broad rise in urbanisation and the Philippines’ fluctuations. You also report several relevant comparisons, including Malaysia’s high level by 2020 and Indonesia’s strong growth from the lowest starting point. However, some key details are incomplete or imprecise: Malaysia is described as reaching “almost more than 75%” in 2020, while the chart shows about 76%, and the forecast is closer to 84% than 85%. Thailand’s 2020 figure is about 34%, not simply a one-point rise from 2000, and the Philippines is forecast at roughly 56%, rather than 50%. The overview could also highlight that Malaysia is projected to lead by 2040.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a body paragraph comparing the four countries. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, the body paragraph places many figures and comparisons into one long sequence, especially the section beginning “Although Indonesia…”; this makes the relationships between countries and time periods difficult to follow. Some linking expressions are also awkward or do not clearly show the intended relationship, such as “following that” and “Although after 1990.” Separate the country trends into clearer groups or paragraphs, and use more precise transitions to distinguish past changes from forecasts. This would improve progression and reduce the sense of a list of figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “urban population,” “declined,” “increased significantly” and “predicted,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or informal: “facing a bit fluctuations” and “entirely different story” are not well suited to a formal report, while “almost more than 75%” is unclear. There are also spelling and word-form errors, including “rised,” “amlost” and “thailand.” Aim for precise, neutral language and check spelling carefully. For example, use “experienced some fluctuations,” “by contrast,” and “rose to approximately” when describing the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “Although” and “which,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement and verb forms. For example, “the population in cities increased in all four countries with Philippines facing” needs an article before “the Philippines,” and “it starts to increase” shifts into the present tense when describing a past trend. The sentence beginning “Although Indonesia has least urban population” also has an incomplete comparative construction, and several long sentences are joined in ways that make punctuation difficult to control. Use shorter sentences for individual trends, maintain past tense for historical data, and reserve future forms for predictions.

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