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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 7.0 Example

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

194 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 7.0

The given linear graph delineates the information about the proportion of people in 4 distinct countries who were urban dwellers from 1970 to 2020, along with the projection for 2030 and 2040. The data has been calibrated in percentage. Overall, it is evident that Malaysia and the Philippines had almost the same ratio of urban dwellers in 1970, at about 30%. Malaysia then rose markedly, reaching roughly 60% in 2000 and just over 80% by 2040, the highest figure throughout the forecast period. The Philippines climbed to just under 50% in 1990, before falling gradually to about 42% in 2010; it then recovered to approximately 55% by 2040. Indonesia began at around 13%, increasing slowly to 30% in 2000. Its growth accelerated thereafter, and it overtook the Philippines at around 2010, reaching about 64% in 2040. Thailand remained lower than the other three countries for most of the period: after rising from roughly 18% in 1970 to 30% in 1990, its figure changed little until 2020. It is then projected to increase to 50% by 2040. Overall, all four countries show an upward trend, although Thailand's growth is concentrated in the final two decades.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Replace the first two sentences with a concise introduction that names the four countries and says the figures are percentages.
2
In the overview, contrast Malaysia’s leading rise with Thailand’s relatively flat early trend and later increase.
3
Before submitting, compare each stated turning point and endpoint with the plotted line, then check collocations such as “given as percentages.”

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