Cambridge 18 Writing Task 1 Test 1 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)

Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

The Prompt

Urban Population in Four Asian Countries (1970-2040)

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

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The Data

Percentage of population living in cities (%) - four Asian countries

1970: Philippines 33% / Malaysia 27% / Thailand 13% / Indonesia 17%

1990: Philippines 49% / Malaysia 50% / Thailand 29% / Indonesia 31%

2010: Philippines 45% / Malaysia 71% / Thailand 44% / Indonesia 50%

2020: Philippines 47% / Malaysia 77% / Thailand 51% / Indonesia 56%

2030 (predicted): Philippines 56% / Malaysia 82% / Thailand 61% / Indonesia 65%

2040 (predicted): Philippines 65% / Malaysia 86% / Thailand 70% / Indonesia 72%

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Band 9

185 words

Identifies the specific reversal between Thailand and the Philippines by 2040, rather than only reporting that all four countries rose.

The table shows the percentage of the population living in cities in four Asian countries, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, from 1970 to 2020, with predictions extending to 2040.

Overall, urban populations rose substantially in all four countries throughout the period and are projected to continue rising, with Malaysia consistently the most urbanised country throughout, while Thailand started as the least urbanised but is predicted to overtake the Philippines by 2040.

In 1970, Malaysia and the Philippines had similar urbanisation levels, at 27% and 33% respectively, both considerably higher than Thailand's 13% and Indonesia's 17%. Malaysia's urban population then grew rapidly, reaching 71% by 2010 and 77% by 2020, far outpacing the other three countries throughout this period.

Thailand and Indonesia showed the most dramatic proportional growth, both rising from below 20% in 1970 to over 50% by 2020. By 2040, all four countries are predicted to have a majority urban population, with Malaysia projected to reach 86%, followed by Indonesia and Thailand at around 70%, and the Philippines, despite its early lead, projected to remain the least urbanised of the four at 65%.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Accurately covers all four countries across the full time range with a precise overview identifying Malaysia's consistent lead and the notable reversal between Thailand and the Philippines.

Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised chronologically, with cohesive devices ("meanwhile", "despite") linking the four data sets naturally.

Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("urbanisation", "outpacing", "majority urban population") used accurately throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including comparatives and complex sentences, used with full control.

Band 8

170 words

Accurate and clearly organised, just slightly less varied in its vocabulary than a band 9 answer.

The table shows the percentage of people living in cities in four Asian countries between 1970 and 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of people living in cities increased in all four countries over the period and is expected to keep rising, with Malaysia having the highest percentage throughout.

In 1970, Malaysia and the Philippines had similar levels of urbanisation, at 27% and 33%, both much higher than Thailand at 13% and Indonesia at 17%. Malaysia's urban population then grew quickly, reaching 77% by 2020, much higher than the other three countries.

Thailand and Indonesia grew the most in percentage terms, both rising from under 20% in 1970 to over 50% by 2020. By 2040, all four countries are expected to have more than half their population living in cities, with Malaysia predicted to reach 86%, the highest of all four. This overall pattern suggests that urbanisation across the region is likely to continue at a broadly similar pace for at least the next two decades.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Covers all four countries accurately with a clear overview, including Malaysia's consistent lead, though described a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by chronological detail; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.

Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for describing trends, though slightly less varied than the higher-band answer's phrasing.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.

Band 7

152 words

All figures are correct, but the reversal between Thailand and the Philippines by 2040 is never mentioned.

The table shows the percentage of people living in cities in four Asian countries from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of city dwellers went up in all four countries, and this is expected to continue in the future.

In 1970, Malaysia had 27% and the Philippines had 33%, both higher than Thailand at 13% and Indonesia at 17%. By 2020, Malaysia had grown the most, reaching 77%.

Thailand and Indonesia both grew a lot too, reaching more than 50% by 2020. By 2040, all four countries are predicted to have more than 60% of people living in cities, and Malaysia will still have the highest percentage. This shows that urbanisation is a strong and ongoing trend across the whole region, not just in one or two countries, and it is expected to keep increasing steadily over the next twenty years, according to the predicted figures.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all four countries' figures accurately with a basic overview, but the overview does not clearly identify the reversal between Thailand and the Philippines the way the higher-band answers do.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised chronologically, though figures are listed with fairly plain connecting language throughout.

Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.

Band 6.5

152 words

The figures are all correct, but agreement errors appear in almost every sentence.

The table show the percentage of people living in city in four Asian country from 1970 to 2020, with prediction for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of city dweller go up in all four country, and this is expect to continue in the future.

In 1970, Malaysia have 27% and the Philippines have 33%, both higher than Thailand at 13% and Indonesia at 17%. By 2020, Malaysia have grow the most, reaching 77%.

Thailand and Indonesia both grow a lot too, reaching more than 50% by 2020. By 2040, all four country is predict to have more than 60% of people living in city, and Malaysia will still have the highest percentage. This show that urbanisation is a strong and ongoing trend across the whole region, not just in one or two country, and it is expect to keep increasing steadily over the next twenty year, according to the predicted figure.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: Reports all four countries' figures accurately, matching the content of the band 7 answer.

Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised chronologically, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.

Lexical Resource: Limited by "country" and "city" being used without their plural forms throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("table show", "dweller go up", "Malaysia have grow") appear in nearly every sentence.

Band 4-5 - What to Avoid

29 words

No exact figures appear anywhere in the report, and three of the four countries are never properly distinguished.

This table show city population in Asian country.

More people move to city now, this is normal I think.

Malaysia is biggest, this is my opinion about this table.

Examiner Notes

Task Achievement: No exact figures are given for any country or year besides one vague reference to Malaysia, and a personal opinion is inserted, which has no place in a Task 1 report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.

Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than an organised comparison across all four countries.

Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("move to city", "is biggest") used instead of the specific figures given in the table.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("this table show", "Malaysia is biggest").

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These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.