Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-31

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 displays information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, The percentage of population living in Asian cities increased from 1970 to 2020 and predicted to grow larger in the future.

In the cities of Malaysia, the population went up from 30 percent to around 75 percent in 2020 and it is estimated to rise up to rougly 82 percent in 2040. Similar to Malaysia, people in Indonesia moved into the cities. The population in cities grew from around 10 percent to roughly 55 percent in 2020. As a result, it is predicted that the population will climb up to around 60 percent. The same trend follow the cities of Thailand, the living population increased and predicted to grew bigger up to 44 percent. Whereas in Philippines, the population percentage grew up to roughly 50 percent in 1990 but fell to around 42 percent in 2010. Its population recovered a little in 2020 and it is predicted to be around 55 percent in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide a relevant overview of the general upward trend and identify the Philippines’ rise, decline and recovery, which are important features. Several comparisons are also supported by figures: Malaysia rises from about 30% to 75% in 2020, while Indonesia reaches roughly 55%. However, some details are inaccurate or incomplete. Indonesia is about 52% in 2020 and is projected to reach around 64% by 2040, not 60%; Thailand is forecast to reach about 50%, rather than 44%. The overview also overlooks the key contrast that Malaysia is projected to remain the most urbanised, while Thailand stays lowest. Develop the country comparisons more precisely and distinguish 2030 from 2040 figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and a paragraph describing the countries. The sequence from Malaysia and Indonesia to Thailand and the Philippines is understandable, and linking phrases such as “Similar to Malaysia” and “Whereas” help signal comparisons. However, the overview is very brief, and the main paragraph combines several countries without a clear grouping or consistent comparison. Some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “As a result,” which does not express a cause-and-effect relationship between Indonesia’s past growth and its forecast. Organise the details into clearer comparisons—for example, the strongest growth versus the more moderate trends—and use linking expressions to show contrast and time progression more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “increased,” “fell,” “recovered” and “predicted,” so the main information is generally clear. There is some repetition of “population” and “cities,” and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for graph description, such as “moved into the cities,” “climb up,” and “grow bigger.” Spelling errors in “rougly” and “Philippines” (used without “the”) also reduce accuracy. Aim for a more controlled range of trend language and collocations, such as “the urban population share,” “rose steadily,” or “is projected to reach.” This would make the account more concise and precise without changing its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “Whereas” and clauses describing forecasts. The overall meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, the overview says “increased … and predicted to grow,” missing the auxiliary “is,” and “The same trend follow” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and tense. “The living population increased and predicted” also needs a passive construction, such as “the proportion increased and is predicted to rise.” Capitalisation is inconsistent in “Overall, The percentage,” and the opening phrase “In the cities of Malaysia” is not formed naturally. Check verb forms and agreement, and proofread sentence boundaries and capital letters.

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