Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
below shows the value of one country’s exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016. The table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given bar graph illustrates the information about the income of various categories of one country's exports during 2015 and 2016. Also, it mentions the comparison of change in values from 2015 to 2016 in percentage.
According to the bar graph, petroleum products value was 60 billions dollar, in 2015. This figure rise, at 65 billions dollar , in 2016. The value of engineered goods was 55 billions dollar in 2015, while the figure went up by 5 billions dollar, in 2016. There was 50 billions dollar value of the gems and jewellery products in 2015 and this figure is only one which decreased in 2016, at 45 billions dollar. Additionally, the value for agricultural products was same in the given both of the years. There was also increase trend in textiles industry from 2015 to 2016, by almost 8 billions dollar.
As per the given information below the bar chart, we can saw highest changes in textiles industry almost, at 15.24% from 2015 to 2016. Furthermore, the lowest percentage of changes was in agricultural products. Also, there was 3% and 5.18% of change in value of engineered goods and gems and jewellery respectively. However, there was 8.5% of increase in the value of petroleum products from 2015 to 2016.
Overall, the highest earning of export was petroleum products in both of the given the years and the lowest one was textiles industry. Moreover, in terms of changes from 2015 to 2016, there was a significant change in textiles and a few change in agricultural products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by reporting on both the export values and the percentage changes. The main features are identified, and comparisons are made between categories. However, the report is somewhat mechanical, listing data points sequentially rather than synthesising the information into a more analytical overview. While the key trends are noted, the distinction between the absolute values and the percentage changes could be better integrated to provide a more cohesive summary. The overview is present but could be more effectively highlighted to capture the most significant trends, such as the contrast between the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewellery.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organised into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and an overview. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'However', though some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from absolute values to percentage changes. However, the referencing is occasionally slightly awkward, such as 'this figure is only one which decreased', which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, though it lacks the sophisticated flow of higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe trends and values clearly. Phrases like 'highest earning of export' and 'increase trend' are understandable but slightly unnatural. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'we can saw' (should be 'we can see') and 'a few change' (should be 'a small change'). While the student successfully uses terms like 'petroleum products' and 'gems and jewellery', the overall lexical range is somewhat limited and lacks the precision required for higher bands. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points without impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'petroleum products value was 60 billions dollar' (missing articles and incorrect pluralisation), 'this figure rise' (tense error), and 'the value for agricultural products was same' (missing article). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas. While these errors are frequent, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the data. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that numbers and units are expressed accurately in academic writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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