User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 4.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

190 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

Compare the overall upward direction with differences in pace: Malaysia rises steadily, while Indonesia’s growth accelerates after 2000.
Highlight meaningful exceptions to a simple upward trend, especially the Philippines’ fall after 1990 and Thailand’s extended plateau.
Use the final-year figures to compare the projected ranking: Malaysia is highest, Indonesia next, the Philippines below it, and Thailand lowest.

Suggested structure

Paraphrase the graph’s subject, countries, and time span in the introduction.
Give an overview of the overall direction and the main contrast in projected levels.
Describe starting values and Malaysia’s steady rise.
Compare the Philippines’ dip and recovery with Indonesia’s stronger later growth.
Finish the detailed comparison with Thailand’s plateau and forecast increase.

Useful vocabulary & examples

urban population share: the percentage of a population living in cities
Malaysia’s urban population share is projected to exceed 80% by 2040.
reach a peak: attain the highest point in a period
The Philippines reached a peak of about 48% in 1990.
remain broadly stable: stay at a similar level, with little overall change
Thailand’s figure remained broadly stable near 30% for several years.
be projected to: be expected or forecast to happen
Indonesia’s urban share is projected to reach about 64% in 2040.

Task Prompt

The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in 4 Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 4.0

The graph shows percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. The number of population to Philippines increased gradually between 1970 to 1980 and reached a peak of fifty in 1990. Then fell steadily until 2010 and after this go up. Following this, Malaysia showed the strongest and most continuous growth. It began at about 30% in 1970 and rose to roughly 45% in 1990, before climbing quickly to around 70% in 2010. It is then forecast to reach just over 80% by 2040, the highest figure shown. Indonesia also increased overall, from about 13% in 1970 to 30% in 2000. Its growth becomes faster after 2000, and it is predicted to reach approximately 64% in 2040, overtaking the Philippines by 2020. Thailand had the lowest urban share for much of the period. It rose slowly from around 20% in 1970 to just over 30% in 2020, then is expected to accelerate to about 50% by 2040. Overall, Malaysia remains highest after 2000, while the Philippines is the only country to show a noticeable decline before recovering.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Write a one-sentence overview after the introduction: compare Malaysia’s strong rise with the Philippines’ dip and recovery, and identify Thailand as the lowest for much of the period.

Check each data description against the graph, using approximate values where appropriate; distinguish the Philippines’ 1990 local high from its later projected increase.

Proofread for complete sentences and paired structures: make sure every trend verb has a subject, and use “between…and…” for date ranges.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

4.0

Modest

Words

190

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

4.0 Band

The continuation adds relevant coverage of all four countries and gives a useful overview: “Malaysia remains highest after 2000,” while the Philippines declines and recovers. However, the preserved opening says the Philippines “reached a peak of fifty in 1990,” which does not identify its later projected rise, and the overview arrives late. For a clearer chart report, state the main comparisons first and describe the Philippines’ 1990 high as a temporary peak before its later recovery.

Coherence & Cohesion

4.5 Band

The answer proceeds from the Philippines to the other countries, and phrases such as “in contrast” (in the continuation’s comparison of trends) could help distinguish patterns. As written, the opening sequence “Then fell steadily…” is a fragment, and the abrupt “Following this” does not make a strong transition between countries. Group the overview before the details, then use clear comparison links to organise the country-by-country account.

Lexical Resource

4.5 Band

Some chart vocabulary is effective and specific, including “climbing quickly,” “lowest urban share,” and “overtaking.” The opening wording “The number of population to Philippines” is not a natural way to describe a percentage, and “go up” is informal and imprecise for a report. Use accurate terms such as “the proportion of the population in the Philippines” and “rise,” while keeping the useful trend vocabulary used later.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

4.0 Band

The continuation includes several well-formed sentences, for example, “It is then forecast to reach just over 80% by 2040.” However, the preserved opening contains repeated grammar problems: “between 1970 to 1980” uses the wrong paired preposition, and “Then fell steadily” lacks a subject. There are also tense and agreement issues in “after this go up.” Practise complete subject–verb sentences and the patterns “between…and…” and “after which it rose.”

Topic Band Distribution

Band 9.03 examples

Band 8.03 examples

Band 7.03 examples

Band 6.03 examples

Band 5.03 examples

Band 4.03 examples

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