User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 5.0 Example

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

198 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph

Task 1

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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

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Band 5.0

The graph provides us with information about the proportion of the population in Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia living in cities from 1970 till 2020, with prediction for next 20 years. Overall, people living in cities in Malaysia is more than in the other countries, while in Thailand this figure is less than in the Philippines. In 1970, around 30% of people in both the Philippines and Malaysia lived in cities. The figures for Thailand and Indonesia were lower, at about 18% and 13% respectively. Malaysia then saw a steady increase, reaching approximately 60% in 2000 and just over 80% by 2040. Indonesia also rose throughout the period, with faster growth after 2000; it reached about 43% in 2010 and is predicted to end at around 64%. The figure for the Philippines climbed to nearly 50% in 1990, but then fell to just over 40% by 2010. It is expected to rise again, reaching roughly 56% in 2040. Thailand increased more slowly at first, remaining close to 30% around 1990–2010. After 2020, it is forecast to grow more noticeably, reaching approximately 50% by 2040. Thus, Malaysia remains the most urbanised country, while Thailand has the lowest proportion.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Write a separate overview that identifies Malaysia’s consistently highest share and summarises the lower trends, including the Philippines’ fluctuation.

Group the figures into comparisons: describe Malaysia and Indonesia’s rises together, then contrast the Philippines’ dip and Thailand’s slower increase.

Proofread the opening for articles and agreement: check “the Philippines,” “the next 20 years,” and whether the subject is singular or plural.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

5.0

Modest

Words

198

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

5.5 Band

The response gives a clear overview in “Overall, people living in cities in Malaysia is more than in the other countries” and describes all four countries, including the Philippines’ dip and later recovery. It also includes start and end comparisons. The overview’s claim about Thailand being lowest is clearer when qualified by the final year, and the opening only mentions the forecast period indirectly. Next, state the main trends and forecast explicitly in the overview.

Coherence & Cohesion

5.5 Band

The sequence moves from an overview to starting figures and then follows the countries’ trends, with linking phrases such as “then” and “After 2020.” This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, the opening combines the chart introduction and overview in one long sentence, and the comparisons are presented country by country rather than grouped by trend. Use separate introduction and overview sentences, then organise details into contrasting groups.

Lexical Resource

5.0 Band

Vocabulary such as “proportion,” “steady increase,” and “forecast” suits a line graph, and the response uses a range of verbs to describe change. Some wording is awkward or repetitive, notably “people living in cities in Malaysia” and “this figure is less than in the Philippines.” The repeated use of “figure” also limits variety. Practise concise comparison phrases such as “the urban population share” and “stood below the rate in.”

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

4.5 Band

The later descriptions use some accurate past and future forms, for example “It is expected to rise again,” and include varied sentence structures. However, the preserved opening has clear errors in “in Philippines,” “with prediction for next 20 years,” and “people living in cities in Malaysia is,” where articles and subject–verb agreement need attention. Check articles with country names and make the verb agree with the main noun, “proportion.”

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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