Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-29

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 6.0)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population living in cities in selected four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 with predictions for 2030 and 2040. The selected four Asian countries are Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Overall, percentage of population who lived in a cities significantly increased among all four countries over the given time periood. According to the data in figure proportion of population will grow until 2040 in all the countries.

Malaysia will reach to the highest point at the year 2040. Approximately 80% of the population will live in cities. In Malaysia, 30% of people lived in cities followed by an upward trend until 2040. Similarly, percentage of population grew in Indonesia. It will grow around 60% in 2040 and it will be the second most country, which people live in cities. However, rate of growth showed slower compared to Malaysia.

Furthermore, Thailand recorded gradual development over the time period. The percentage of population who lived in cities was at 20% in 1970 followed by significant development until 1990. After that, figure maintained steady until 2020. However, according to the chart it predict, population will grow significantly until 2040. In contrast, in Phillippines 30% people lived in cities. it grew until 1990 at around 50%, followed by a significant downward trend. the percetage of population dropped to 40% in 2010. Again it showed slow development and will end at 55% in 2040

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main trends and make relevant comparisons: Malaysia rises to the highest projected level, Indonesia grows strongly, Thailand changes more gradually, and the Philippines peaks around 1990 before falling and recovering. The overview also identifies an overall rise across the four countries. This meets the task well, with some features reported accurately, such as Malaysia starting at about 30% and the Philippines reaching roughly 50% in 1990. However, some details are imprecise or misleading: Indonesia is projected to reach about 64%, not around 60%, and the Philippines’ fall is described as reaching 40% rather than about 42–43%. The claim that Thailand was steady from 1990 to 2020 also overlooks its gradual increase. More precise comparisons and fuller coverage of these changes would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of the countries. This makes the information easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Similarly,” “Furthermore,” and “In contrast” help signal comparisons. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes less controlled. For example, the Malaysia paragraph moves from its projected endpoint back to its starting figure, while the Thailand paragraph shifts from historical data to forecasts without a clear transition. Some connectors are also repetitive or do not express the relationship precisely. Organising each country’s figures chronologically, or grouping countries by similar trends, and using clearer transitions between past data and predictions would make the cohesion more natural and consistent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “upward trend,” “gradual development,” “downward trend,” and “maintained steady.” These choices communicate the main patterns, and the response attempts some variation rather than relying only on “increase.” However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “reach to the highest point,” “the second most country,” and “significant development” for a rise in urban population. Repetition of “percentage of population” and “grow” also limits flexibility. There are spelling errors, including “periood,” “Phillippines,” and “percetage,” which are relevant to lexical control. Use standard trend collocations such as “rise to,” “the second-highest proportion,” and “increase steadily,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “followed by” and “which,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some sentences are also well controlled, such as “However, rate of growth showed slower compared to Malaysia,” despite its wording issues being primarily lexical. There are, however, recurring grammatical errors in articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries. Examples include “a cities,” “percentage of population who lived,” and “the chart it predict”; the final section also begins “it grew” and “the percentage” with inappropriate lowercase sentence starts. Tense use shifts between past and future without always marking the change clearly. Review article use, subject–verb agreement, and punctuation, while maintaining a wider range of accurate sentence patterns.

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