Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The chart and table show export earnings for one country in 2015 and 2016. They also show the percentage changes.Overall, the country made more money from exports in 2016 than in 2015. Petroleum products and engineered goods were the most popular exports. Gems and jewellery was the only category that went down.Petroleum products were the highest export. They grew by 3% from around 60 billion to 63 billion dollars. Engineered goods were second. They increased by 8.5% to about 62 billion dollars. On the other hand, gems and jewellery dropped by 5.18%. It fell from 42 billion to 40 billion dollars.For the smaller exports, agricultural products stayed almost the same. They changed by only 0.81%. However, textiles had the biggest growth. They went up by 15.24%. Textiles rose from 26 billion to 32 billion dollars.In conclusion, most export categories increased over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall trend and specific category comparisons. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the analysis. While the key figures are identified, the summary lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure you meet the word count and provide a more detailed overview that highlights the relationship between the two years more effectively. The inclusion of all categories is good, but the under-length nature of the response prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'However', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the information. However, the paragraphing is somewhat mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The transition between the general overview and the specific data points is functional but could be more sophisticated. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with terms like 'export earnings', 'percentage changes', and 'category' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, the word 'increased' and 'grew' are used frequently. To improve, you should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms and more precise collocations related to data reporting, such as 'witnessed a marginal rise' or 'experienced a significant decline'. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is not impeded. There are some minor issues with punctuation and sentence variety, but the grammar is generally reliable. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more complex structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, to describe the data trends more fluidly. The current control is consistent, but the range of structures remains somewhat basic.

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

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