Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11
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 7.5)
The bar chart illustrates the export earnings of a country from five different categories in 2015 and 2016, while the table shows the percentage change in exports in 2016 compared with the previous year.
Overall, export earnings increased three of the five categories, with textiles experiencing the most significant growth. In contrast, earnings from gems and jewellery declined. Petroleum products and engineered goods remained the two highest-earning export categories in both years.
In 2015, petroleum products generated approximately $65 billion, rising slightly to around $68 billion in 2016, an increase of about 3%. Similarly, earnings from engineered goods grew from approximately $61 billion to $66 billion, representing a rise of roughly 8.5%. Thus, engineered goods recorded a considerably larger percentage increase than petroleum products.
By comparison, exports of gems and jewellery fell from about $54 billion to $51 billion, a decline of approximately 5%. Agricultural products showed almost no change, increasing marginally from around $42 billion to $43 billion, or about 1%. Finally, textiles experienced the largest percentage growth, rising from approximately $36 billion in 2015 to $42 billion in 2016, which was an increase of more than 15%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data from the table and chart. The selection of key features, such as the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewellery, is appropriate. You have successfully integrated the percentage change data with the absolute values, which demonstrates a good ability to synthesize information. The report is well-structured and covers all categories mentioned in the prompt, ensuring that the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the export performance between 2015 and 2016.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the highest-earning categories to those that declined or remained stable. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', 'By comparison', and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis, contributing to the overall clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'significant growth', 'remained the two highest-earning', 'generated approximately', and 'increasing marginally' show a good level of precision. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately throughout the text. While the range is sufficient to convey the information clearly, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to economic data could elevate the response further. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., '...while the table shows...', '...which was an increase of...'). Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is clear and professional, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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