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 of both countries. However, after 2000 percentage of residentials of Indonesian urban areas significantly escalated upto almost 50% in 2020 and with a prediction of second highest urban populated country in next 20 years. Conversely, percantage of citizens of Thailand remained almost steady at 30% between 2000 to 2020 and with a prediction of sharp rise between 40% to 50% in next two decades.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the four countries and include a clear overview of the broad rise in urbanisation, as well as Malaysia’s projected lead and Thailand’s comparatively low position. Several comparisons are relevant, such as the shared 2000 figure for Indonesia and Thailand and Indonesia’s faster growth after that point. However, some details are inaccurate or too vague: Malaysia did not dip in 1990; it rose from about 40% in 1980 to 45.5% in 1990. The Philippines’ 2010 figure was about 42.5%, rather than simply 45%, and Thailand is not the least urbanised in the later years, since the Philippines remains lower in 2030 and 2040. Develop the overview with the major contrast between Malaysia’s high level and Indonesia’s rapid rise, and report projections more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs grouping Malaysia with the Philippines, then Indonesia with Thailand. This makes the main comparisons easy to locate, and linking phrases such as “On the other hand” and “Conversely” help signal contrasts. The organisation is coherent, though some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Additionally” is used to introduce a prediction, while “However” begins a sentence that mainly continues the same country comparison. References such as “its percentage” and “these two countries” are understandable but occasionally require the reader to infer the intended subject. To strengthen progression, group information around the clearest trends and use more precise references, such as naming the country again when a comparison shifts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “urban population,” “urbanization,” “predictions,” and “significantly escalated,” so the subject is generally clear. There are also attempts to vary wording rather than repeat “percentage” throughout. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a graph: “urbanization would be on peak,” “people … shifting in cities,” and “second highest urban populated country” do not express the intended comparisons precisely. Some spelling errors, including “untill,” “percantage,” and “residentials,” also reduce control. Prefer standard collocations such as “the proportion living in urban areas increased” and “is projected to be the second most urbanised.” More accurate, consistent vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer and more formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while,” “after,” and “however,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Some sentence patterns are controlled, such as “Number of people … kept on increasing after 1970.” However, errors in tense, agreement, articles, and sentence construction remain noticeable. For example, “Trend for Malaysian people started rising” needs an article and a more suitable subject, while “percentage of residentials … escalated … and with a prediction” is not a complete, well-formed construction. The overview’s “an increasing trend … was observed” also sits awkwardly beside the time period. Use consistent past tense for historical data and a clear future form for forecasts, and check that each sentence has a complete main clause.

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