Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-30

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 illustrates the ratio of city population of four Asian countries between 1970 and 2020. It also predicts for the next two decades.

Overall, Malaysia is the only country with most city population. Number of people living in cities in Indonesia gradually increased overtime while in Philippines and Thailand it kept flactuating initially then steadly increased.

Looking at the data, city population grew in all four contries between 1970 and 1990. While the growth remained upword in Malaysia Indonesia it droped to just over 40% in Philippines. On the other hand the growth remained relatively steady at around 30% in Thailand till 2020.

The prediction shows that over the next two decades the city population will maintain an upword trend in all four countries with Thailand expacting the greatest increase from 30% to 2020 to approximately 50% by 2040. Phillipines, Malaysia, and Indonesia will experience around 10% increase e

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that urbanisation rises in all four countries and note Malaysia’s high level and Thailand’s later growth. However, the overview is not fully accurate: Malaysia is not the only country with a majority living in cities, since Indonesia also passes 50% by 2020. Several key comparisons are missing, including Indonesia’s strong rise from 14% to 52% and the Philippines’ rise and subsequent dip before recovery. The statement that Thailand stayed around 30% “till 2020” overlooks its gradual increase to about 34%. The forecast is also incomplete: the Philippines rises by about 10 percentage points, but Malaysia and Indonesia do not both rise by that amount. Select the main contrasts more precisely and support them with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, historical details and a forecast paragraph. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the body is uneven: the historical paragraph moves between Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand without clearly comparing their trajectories, and the forecast ends abruptly after “increase e”. Linking words such as “Overall,” “While” and “On the other hand” are attempted, but some connections are unclear or do not accurately signal the relationship between the data. Grouping the countries by their patterns—for example, the strongest rises versus the more moderate trends—and completing each comparison would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “gradually increased,” “fluctuating” and “upward trend,” and the main subject remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “ratio of city population,” “most city population” and “maintain an upward trend.” Spelling errors, including “flactuating,” “steadly,” “contries” and “expacting,” are noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the report. Use standard terms such as “proportion of the population living in cities” and “urban population,” and check spelling carefully. More precise language for describing rises, falls and comparisons would help you report the graph with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a subordinate clause beginning “While the growth remained upward…”. However, control is inconsistent, and some sentence structures make the relationships between figures difficult to follow. For example, “While the growth remained upward in Malaysia Indonesia it dropped…” lacks punctuation and a clear grammatical connection between the countries. “It also predicts for the next two decades” has an unclear subject and verb pattern, while “from 30% to 2020 to approximately 50%” uses an incorrect preposition and structure. There are also tense and agreement issues in the forecast. Practise building complete comparisons with clear subjects, accurate past and future forms, and punctuation around introductory clauses.

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