Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-01

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 key information about percentge of the population into four Asian counties living in cities between 1970 and 2020 addition to future guess for next 20 years .

Overall , it can be seen that there is no decrease in the four country and Malaysia has the most percent thant the other country .

According to what is shown , Malaysia initiate with 30 percent in 1970 and has dramaticly rose to peaked at 2020 , there is slightly increase betweent 1980 to 1990 but it keeping growth after and its will have expect for more increase until 2040 with more 80 percent , after that Philippines started over than 30 percent and increased to 50 percent approximately in 1990 after that it fell to under than 40 percent in 2010 but it keep the increase even 2020 and it expect to will get more betweent 2030 and 2040 to get 60 percent .

Moreover , Thailand begin less than 20 percent although has a significantly rose to reach 30 percent in 2020 and will have a predict increase in next 20 years to get over than 40 percent in 2040 , the last one it is Indonesia it started with over than 10 percent and increased rapidly to got more than 50 percent in 2020 and it is forecast that will keep grow to 60 percent approximately in 2040 .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall upward direction and correctly note that Malaysia finishes as the most urbanised country. You also include all four countries and refer to both historical data and forecasts. However, several comparisons and figures are inaccurate or unclear: Malaysia rises to about 76% in 2020, not a peak, and is projected to reach roughly 84% by 2040; the Philippines reaches about 48% in 1990, then falls to around 43% in 2010, rather than dropping below 40%. Thailand is already around 34% in 2020, not 30%, and Indonesia is forecast to reach about 64%, not 60%. The overview is also too broad: Indonesia rises strongly, while the Philippines fluctuates. Select the main contrasts and report them more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs covering the countries. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the body is largely made up of very long sentences joined by phrases such as “after that,” “and,” and “moreover,” so the sequence of comparisons becomes difficult to follow. The Malaysia and Philippines discussion is especially crowded, while the final paragraph combines Thailand and Indonesia without clearly separating their trends. Use shorter sentences and group countries by meaningful similarities or contrasts. Clearer paragraphing and more varied, accurate linking would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant trend vocabulary, including “increased,” “fell,” “rapidly,” and “forecast,” and the reader can generally identify whether a figure rises or declines. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the description awkward: “future guess,” “dramaticly rose to peaked,” and “will have a predict increase.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “percentge,” “counties,” and “betweent.” Aim to use a smaller set of precise chart terms accurately, such as “percentage,” “urban population,” “rose,” “declined,” and “is projected to reach.” Check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas in complex sentences, but these are often faulty, and the response relies heavily on long chains of clauses. For example, “Malaysia initiate with 30 percent … and has dramaticly rose to peaked” combines incompatible verb forms, while “it expect to will get more” has an incorrect verb pattern. Other recurring problems include missing or incorrect articles and prepositions, and inconsistent tense when moving between past data and forecasts. These errors sometimes make relationships between events hard to understand. Practise writing one clear sentence for each trend, using past simple for completed years and “is projected to” for future figures. Then check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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