Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The below graph illustrates the information about the population living in cities of the different four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020 and also prediction about 2030 and 2040.

First of all,in 1970 the 32 percent population of Philippines had lived in cities which was reached on 50% in 1990 and then it decreased and also steadily increased upto 45% in 2020 and expected that it increases 55% percent in 2040.The 30% people of Malaysia in 1970 lived in cites which increases sharply and also expected that it will reach on 85% in 2040.

The 14% and 18% population of total lived in cites respectively Indonesia and Thailand in 1970 and it also increased upto 50% and 30% in 2020 and also expected that it will increased 60% and 45% in 2040.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the countries and report several relevant figures, including the Philippines’ rise to about 50% in 1990 and Malaysia’s projected level of roughly 85% in 2040. However, the response only minimally summarises the graph: it has no clear overview of the main patterns, such as Malaysia becoming the most urbanised country and Indonesia showing the strongest sustained growth. Some figures and trends are also imprecise: the Philippines falls after 1990 before rising, rather than simply increasing steadily, and Thailand is projected to reach about 50%, not 45%, in 2040. The response is 132 words, below the required 150. Add an overview and select key comparisons across the full period, checking the figures against the graph.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information is presented in a broadly understandable order: you begin with the Philippines and Malaysia, then discuss Indonesia and Thailand. This gives the response some organisation, and phrases such as “in 1970” and “in 2040” help locate the data in time. However, the response is essentially one continuous block after the introduction, with no distinct overview or clear paragraphing. Connections between trends are also limited; repeated use of “and also” makes the progression feel list-like, while the final sentence combines two countries and several time points in a way that is difficult to follow. Separate the overview from the detailed comparisons, and use clearer links such as “by contrast” or “whereas” to show relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “decreased,” “steadily increased,” “sharply,” and “expected,” so the reader can generally understand the intended trends. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes the description less natural. For example, “the population … had lived in cities” is not an appropriate way to describe a chart trend, and “reach on 85%” is an awkward expression. “Cites” is also misspelled in place of “cities,” and “different four” is unnatural. Use standard graph language consistently, such as “the proportion living in cities,” “rose to,” and “is projected to reach,” and vary verbs for increases and decreases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to combine several data points in longer sentences, but the range of sentence structures is limited and these longer constructions often contain errors. Examples include “the 32 percent population of Philippines had lived,” “which increases sharply,” and “it will increased,” where tense, article use, or verb form is incorrect. The sentence beginning “The 14% and 18% population…” also has an unclear grammatical relationship between the figures and the countries. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly the missing space after “First of all,” and the response relies heavily on comma-linked clauses. Use simple, accurate comparison sentences as a foundation, then add controlled complex structures with correct past-tense and future forms.

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