Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-02

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 shows the percentage of people living in the cities of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 and predictions for next two decades.

Overall, an increasing trend with some fluctuations was observed for urban population in all of the four countries during 1970 to 2020. Additionally, urbanization would be on peak in Malaysia and least in Thailand in 2030 and 2040.

To begin with, the percentage of people living in the cities of Malaysia and Philippines was the highest as 30% and 31% respectively. Trend for Malaysian people started rising after 1970 and showed a slight dip in 1990 and then again rose to 60% in 2000. Their percentage kept on increasing untill 2020. Additionally, it is expected that 70-80% Malaysian residents would move in cities in next two decades. On the other hand, people of Philippines shifting in cities showed a sharp rise near to 50% in 1990 and then fell to 45% in 2010. After 2010, its percentage again rose slightly and is predicted to rise nearly 50 percent in upcoming years of 2030 and 2040.

However, Indonesian population living in urban areas was least as 13% in 1970 and for Thailand it was nearly 20% in the same year. Number of people moving in cities of these two countries kept on increasing after 1970. In the year of 2000, same percentage of residents were living in cities

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall upward movement and make relevant comparisons between the four countries, including Malaysia’s strong growth and the Philippines’ rise and subsequent fall. However, some key details are inaccurate: Malaysia did not dip in 1990; it rose from about 40% in 1980 to 45.5% in 1990. The overview also says Thailand would remain the least urbanised in both forecast years, but Indonesia is lower in 2030, while Thailand is lower in 2040. The final comparison is unfinished, and the forecast figures are described too broadly as “70–80%” and “nearly 50 percent.” More precise reporting of the later trends and a complete ending would make the main features clearer and more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs comparing Malaysia and the Philippines, then Indonesia and Thailand. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “To begin with,” and “On the other hand” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression is weakened by the abrupt ending: the final sentence stops after “same percentage of residents were living in cities,” leaving the comparison incomplete. Some references are also unclear, particularly “their percentage” and “its percentage,” where the country or population could be named again. The repeated use of “Additionally” and “However” sometimes feels mechanical. Complete the final comparison and use clearer country references to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “increasing trend,” “sharp rise,” “fell,” and “predicted to rise.” These choices make the main movements understandable, and attempts such as “urbanization” show some topic-specific vocabulary. Some word choices and collocations are less natural or precise, however: “urbanization would be on peak,” “people … shifting in cities,” and “move in cities” do not express the intended trends idiomatically. “Percentage of people” is also repeated frequently, and “kept on increasing” is informal for this report. Aim for precise chart language such as “the urban population share rose” or “the proportion living in cities increased,” while checking spelling such as “until.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “while,” “after,” and “that,” and most of the meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors occur in sentence construction and tense or agreement. For example, “Trend for Malaysian people started rising” needs an article, while “people of Philippines shifting in cities showed” has an incomplete or awkward clause structure. “In the year of 2000, same percentage…” also lacks an article and is left unfinished. The overview’s “an increasing trend … was observed” is grammatically possible but less direct than a clear present or past description of the data. Review articles, complete clauses, and consistent past-tense reporting for historical figures; use future forms for predictions.

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