Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates the value of exports in five different categories of a country in 2015 and 2016, while the table depicts the percentage change in export earnings in the year 2015 compared with the previous year.

Overall, export earnings increased in four out of the five categories. Petroleum products and Engineered products remained the two largest exports in both the years, while textiles experienced the most significant growth. By contrast, Gems and jewellery were the only category that recorded a decline.

In 2015, Petroleum products generated the highest export revenue, at around $61 billion, and this figure increased to about $65 billion in 2016, representing an increase of 3%. Similarly, earnings from Engineered products climbed from approximately $57 billion to $62 billion, an increase of 8.5%.

In addition, Gems and jewellery earned about $50 billion in 2015 before falling to roughly $47 billion in 2016, decline of 5.18%. Agricultural products remained relatively stable as compared to others showing a rise of 0.81%. Finally, Textiles recorded the most substantial growth, with export earnings rising from about $37 billion to $41 billion, representing an increase of 15.24%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the overall increase in most categories and the specific growth of textiles. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between the two years is clear. You have included both the absolute values and the percentage changes as requested. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview provides a slightly more comprehensive summary of the trends, perhaps by explicitly noting the contrast between the growth categories and the single declining category more prominently. Overall, the response is well-structured and covers the requirements of the prompt thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the data. You have used cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'In addition', and 'By contrast' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. This demonstrates a high level of control over the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information with precision. Phrases like 'generated the highest export revenue', 'remained relatively stable', and 'recorded the most substantial growth' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic report. There is a good awareness of style and collocation. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items could elevate the response further. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('representing an increase of 3%') and subordinate clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There are very few errors; for instance, 'in both the years' could be simplified to 'in both years', and 'decline of 5.18%' is missing an article ('a decline'). These are minor slips that do not affect the overall clarity of the writing. The grammatical range is sufficient to support the clear communication of the data.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.