IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Urban Population Line Graph (Band 9 Sample)
This Academic Task 1 asks you to summarise a line graph showing the percentage of people living in cities in four Asian countries from 1970, with projections to 2040. A band-9 response gives a clear overview and reports the key figures and comparisons accurately, including the future predictions. Below is a model answer of roughly 190 words, followed by why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
The graph below shows the percentage of the population living in cities in four Asian countries — the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia — from 1970, with predictions for 2040. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
192 words · Band 9The line graph illustrates the proportion of people living in urban areas in four Asian countries — the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia — between 1970 and 2020, together with projections up to 2040.
Overall, urbanisation is expected to rise in all four countries across the seventy-year period. Malaysia is by far the most urbanised throughout, whereas the other three begin at similar, lower levels before diverging, with Indonesia showing the most dramatic climb.
In 1970, Malaysia and the Philippines had comparable urban populations, at around 30% each. From there, Malaysia rose steadily and steeply, reaching 76% by 2020 and a projected 83% by 2040. The Philippines, by contrast, grew far more erratically: after peaking at almost 50% in 1990 it dipped and then hovered in the mid-40s for two decades, and is only forecast to reach 56% by 2040.
Thailand and Indonesia began as the least urbanised, at 18% and 14% respectively. Thailand climbed gradually to a predicted 50% by 2040. Indonesia, however, accelerated sharply after 2000, overtaking both Thailand and the Philippines and reaching a projected 64% — second only to Malaysia.
03 · Why this scores Band 9
The response reports all four countries, gives a clear overview (all rising, Malaysia highest, Indonesia climbing fastest), and includes accurate figures and the future projections (Malaysia 83%, Indonesia 64% by 2040). It groups the countries into sensible pairs rather than listing them one by one.
The report follows the ideal Task 1 shape — introduction, overview, then two detail paragraphs that pair the countries logically (highest two, then lowest two). Cohesion is natural — "From there", "by contrast", "however", "second only to" — and comparisons are threaded throughout rather than tacked on.
Trend vocabulary is precise and varied — "rose steadily and steeply", "grew far more erratically", "hovered in the mid-40s", "accelerated sharply", "overtaking" — and the language of prediction ("projected", "forecast to reach") is handled naturally.
A range of structures is controlled accurately: a contrast with "whereas", a participle clause ("overtaking both Thailand and the Philippines"), and correct future forms for the projections ("is only forecast to reach 56% by 2040"). The mix of past and future tenses is handled cleanly.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
How do I deal with a graph that has future predictions?
Report the historical part in past tenses and the projected part with future forms ("is expected to", "is forecast to reach"). Make clear which figures are predictions, and mention in the overview that the trend continues into the future.
Should I describe every country separately?
It is usually cleaner to group them — for example, the highest performers together and the lowest together, or those that rise smoothly versus erratically. This model pairs Malaysia with the Philippines and Thailand with Indonesia, which keeps the comparisons tight.
How many figures should I quote?
Enough to support your comparisons, not every point. Quoting the start value, the end/projected value and any notable turning point (like the Philippines peaking in 1990) is ideal. A wall of numbers with no selection lowers the score.
How long should a Task 1 answer be?
At least 150 words; a band-9 answer is usually 170–200. This model is 192 words, enough to cover all four countries and the projections without padding. Aim to finish Task 1 in about 20 minutes.
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