Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-04

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 the propoption of the population living in cities of four Asian countries , Philippines , Malaysia , Thailand and Indonesia between 1970 and 2020 with future predictions .

Overall , Malaysia and Indonesia had the largest percentage of growth over the period . Thailand had a considerable rise in population . In contrast , Philippines figures fluctuated over the years .

Indonesia had the smallest population rate by 1970 , then increased dramatically to 29% in 2000 and around 53 % in 2020 with prediction it will growing from 2030 to 2040 to nearly 65% . Meanwhile Malaysia rose greatly from 29% to nearly 75% with predection of more growing in the next 20 years .

On the other hand , Thailand increased slightly from approximately 19 % in 1970 to 29 % in 2020 also future gusses for more unhibitants around 45 % by 2040 . Whereas Philippines marked 31 % by 1970 , after that climbed to 49 % in 1990 , then fluctuated after 1990 to 2020 with a more people ratio prediction around 55% in 2040 .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide a relevant overview, identifying Malaysia and Indonesia as the strongest growers and noting the Philippines’ fluctuations. You also cover all four countries and include several figures, such as Indonesia’s rise to about 53% in 2020 and Malaysia’s increase to nearly 75%. However, some comparisons and details are less fully developed: Malaysia was already the most urbanised country by 2000 and is projected to remain highest, while Indonesia overtakes the Philippines around 2010—important features that could be made explicit. A few figures are imprecise, including Thailand at about 29% in 2020 rather than roughly 34%, and its 2040 projection is closer to 50% than 45%. Overall, the main trends are addressed, but some reporting needs greater precision.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping the countries for detail. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow, and transitions such as “Meanwhile” and “On the other hand” signal comparisons. However, the linking is sometimes mechanical or unclear. For example, “On the other hand” does not establish a clear contrast between Thailand and the preceding countries, and the final “Whereas” clause is attached to a long sentence, making the relationship between the Philippines’ figures and the forecast less smooth. More direct comparisons between countries would also strengthen progression. Keep the paragraph structure, but use transitions that express the precise relationship and separate complex comparisons into clearer sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some suitable task vocabulary, including “fluctuated,” “prediction,” “increased,” and “percentage,” so the main trends can generally be understood. However, the range and control are limited by noticeable spelling and word-choice errors. “Propoption” and “predection” are misspelled, while “future gusses” and “more unhibitants” are inappropriate or unclear expressions for describing a projected urban population share. “Largest percentage of growth” is also less precise than language describing the greatest increase. Aim for accurate, conventional collocations for graphs and check spelling carefully; this will make your descriptions more precise without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “then,” “after that,” and “whereas.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in verb forms, sentence construction, and punctuation are noticeable. For example, “it will growing” should be “it will grow,” and “with prediction it will…” needs a clearer grammatical structure, such as “with predictions that it will…”. In “Thailand increased slightly … also future…,” the sentence lacks a well-formed connection between the past trend and forecast. Commas are also separated from the preceding words throughout. Practise forming complete sentences around forecasts and use consistent punctuation; greater accuracy in these patterns would improve clarity.

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