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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 6.0 Example

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

200 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph
Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

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

  1. Paraphrase the graph’s subject, countries, and time span in the introduction.
  2. Give an overview of the overall direction and the main contrast in projected levels.
  3. Describe starting values and Malaysia’s steady rise.
  4. Compare the Philippines’ dip and recovery with Indonesia’s stronger later growth.
  5. 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
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 6.0

This table provides information on the changes in the urban population ratios of four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, and also predicts the data on urban population ratio changes up to 2040. Overall, the urban populations of the four countries on the chart are all showing an upward trend. However, the urban population ratios were at different levels and followed distinct patterns. Malaysia and the Philippines both began at about 30% in 1970. Malaysia then rose steadily, reaching approximately 60% in 2000 and 83% in 2040, the highest figure shown. The Philippines increased to a peak of about 48% in 1990, before declining to around 42% in 2010. It then recovered and is projected to reach roughly 56% by 2040. Indonesia started with the lowest proportion, at about 13% in 1970. Its figure climbed gradually to 30% in 2000, then rose more quickly, reaching approximately 52% in 2020 and 64% in 2040. Thailand also began at a low level, at around 18%. Its percentage grew more slowly, staying near 30% between 1990 and 2000, but is predicted to increase to about 50% by 2040. Thus, all four countries are expected to become more urban, although Malaysia remains clearly ahead.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Replace “table” with “line graph” and introduce the measured quantity as the percentage of each country’s population living in cities.
2
Make the overview more selective: identify Malaysia as the highest by the end and mention the Philippines’ rise, dip, and recovery.
3
Check every series at key years before writing; include the Philippines’ decline from about 48% in 1990 to 42% in 2010 rather than implying every line rises continuously.

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