Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-03

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 4.5)

The line graph compares the population of Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysian countries living in cities between 1970 to 2020 whereas,from 2030 to 2040 is an perdiction.

Overall,the given graph incidate the population living in cities.Where Malaysian citizen population is rapidly increasing in all year's but in Indonesia have faced down at the first but at the end it went up.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies the graph’s general subject and notes that Malaysia rises, but it does not adequately summarise the data or select the main comparisons. The claim that Indonesia “have faced down at the first” is inaccurate: its urban share increases throughout, from about 14% in 1970 to 64% in 2040. The overview also omits key features, including Malaysia’s highest projected level and the Philippines’ rise, dip and recovery. The response covers only 1970–2020 in its opening, despite the graph also showing forecasts to 2040. It is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving trends and comparisons largely undeveloped. Include a clear overview and support it with accurate figures across the full period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the graph, followed by a separate overview beginning “Overall”. This gives the reader a simple starting structure. However, the ideas do not progress into a description of the individual countries or comparisons, so the response feels incomplete rather than like a developed report. Linking is limited, and “whereas” does not clearly connect the two time periods in the opening sentence. The overview’s two trends are joined awkwardly with “but,” and the reference to “the end” is vague. Use a clear sequence—introduction, overview, then grouped details—and connect comparisons with precise terms such as “while” or “by contrast.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “line graph,” “population,” “increasing,” and “living in cities,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the vocabulary range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, which makes parts of the meaning difficult to follow. “Malaysian countries” is not an appropriate label for the four nations, and “an perdiction” appears to mean “a prediction.” The phrase “faced down” does not express the intended trend; “declined” would be suitable, although it would not accurately describe Indonesia’s data. Build a bank of trend language such as “rose steadily,” “fluctuated,” “reached,” and “was projected to,” and use country names consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both a longer introductory sentence and a separate overview, showing some effort to vary sentence structure. However, control is uneven, and errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles, and punctuation sometimes make the message unclear. For example, “between 1970 to 2020” combines two incompatible preposition patterns; use “between 1970 and 2020.” “In Indonesia have faced” lacks a clear grammatical subject and has incorrect agreement, while “the population … is rapidly increasing” does not fit the plural country comparison as written. Commas are also attached inconsistently in “Overall,the.” Practise complete subject–verb sentences and accurate time expressions, then check punctuation and articles when editing.

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