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)

This graph illustrates the information about the percentage of population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that population percentage of Malaysia has rose consistent with maximum starting and ending point. Whereas, remaining cities have up and down in percentage during certain period of time.

Firslty, Malaysis have dominant percentage proportion throughout the period of time. Like in 1970, it start with roughly 32% and end with maximum point nearly 83% among all cities. On the other hand, Indonesia begin with low percentage approximately 13%, but throughout the whole year it rise gradually and stop on 60%.

On the contrast, Philippines and Thailand are not consistent between this duration of time. Such as, Philippines commence with closely 31% and there are substaincial decline in 2010. Afterwards, this city show consistently in growth and end up on roughly 53%. Thailand start with nearly 19% and between 2000 to 2020 there was no significant change in the population ratio but after that it grow and close on approximately 43%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in Malaysia and Indonesia and note the contrasting movement in the Philippines and Thailand, so the response includes relevant features and comparisons. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: Malaysia began at about 30%, not 32%, and Indonesia is projected to reach about 64% in 2040, rather than stopping at 60%. The Philippines does not show a substantial decline in 2010; its figure falls gradually from 1990 to 2010 before rising again. Thailand’s final value is about 50%, not 43%. The overview also says Malaysia had the maximum starting point, although it did not. Select the main trends more precisely and distinguish observed data from forecasts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs comparing the countries. Grouping Malaysia and Indonesia separately from the Philippines and Thailand gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and several linking expressions do not accurately signal the relationship between ideas. For example, “Whereas” begins a fragment after the overview sentence, while “On the contrast” is an awkward transition. The repeated use of “On the other hand” and “Such as” also makes cohesion feel mechanical. Use complete sentences, clearer time-based sequencing, and more precise links such as “By comparison” or “From 2010 onwards.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “decline,” “gradually,” and “no significant change,” and you attempt a range of expressions to describe trends. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. Phrases such as “population percentage … has rose consistent,” “dominant percentage proportion,” and “show consistently in growth” are not natural ways to describe the data. There are also spelling errors, including “Firslty,” “Malaysis,” and “substaincial.” Aim for precise chart language and check spelling carefully; for example, describe a figure as “rose steadily” or “remained relatively stable,” rather than using “consistent” in these constructions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses and time references, but control is uneven. Errors occur frequently in verb forms and sentence construction: “has rose” should be “has risen,” “it start” should be “it started,” and “it rise gradually” should be “it rose gradually.” The sentence beginning “Whereas” is incomplete, and “there are substantial decline” has an agreement problem. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “percentage of population” and “end on roughly 53%.” These errors can make relationships between figures harder to understand. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complex sentences around a clear main clause.

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