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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.

196 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 graph illustrates the proportions of people living in urban areas in the four different Asian nations between 1970 and 2020, along with projections for 2030 and 2040. Overall, all four countries experienced an upward trend throughout the period and are expected to reach their peak in 2040. Less than one-third of citizens in Malaysia were living in cities in 1970, at approximately 30%. Its figure then rose steadily, reaching around 60% in 2000 and just over 80% by 2040, the highest level shown. Indonesia also increased considerably, from about 15% in 1970 to roughly 30% in 2000. It continued to climb and is projected to reach the mid-60s by 2040.

The Philippines began at approximately 30%, rising to just under 50% in 1990. However, its urban population share then declined to a little above 40% by 2010 before recovering to around 56% at the end of the period. Thailand had the lowest proportion at the start, at about 20%. Its growth was gradual, remaining near 30% from 1990 to 2020 before increasing to approximately 50% in 2040. Thus, Malaysia remained the most urbanised country from around 2000 onwards, while Thailand ended with the lowest share.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Revise the overview so it describes the broad upward direction without implying that every line rises continuously.
2
Use approximate percentages selectively to support comparisons, especially at the beginning, at major turning points, and in 2040.
3
Check that each noun describes the chart measure accurately: use “proportion of the population” rather than “citizens” when reporting percentages.

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