Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

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 shows the value of a country’s exports in five different categories in 2015 and 2016, while the table gives the percentage change in export values between these two years.

Overall, the value of most export categories increased in 2016. Engineered goods had the highest export value, while textiles experienced the largest percentage increase. In contrast, the value of gems and jewellery decreased.

In 2015, petroleum products earned about $60 billion, and this increased slightly to around $62 billion in 2016, representing a 3% rise. Engineered goods increased from approximately $61 billion to $68 billion, which was an increase of 8.5%. This was the highest export value among the five categories in 2016.

The value of gems and jewellery fell from about $43 billion in 2015 to just over $41 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%. Agricultural products showed very little change, rising from around $32 billion to $32.5 billion, or 0.81%.

Finally, textiles had the lowest export value in 2015, at about $25 billion. However, it increased to around $30 billion in 2016, showing the largest percentage growth of 15.24%.

AI examiner evaluation

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 successfully selected and reported key features from both the bar chart and the table. The comparison between the two years is well-integrated, and the data points are accurate. You have highlighted the most significant changes, such as the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewellery, which demonstrates a good understanding of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently link the data from the table (percentage change) with the absolute values in the bar chart to provide a more analytical perspective throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and distinct body paragraphs. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the data, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Finally', and 'However' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate for this type of task. The use of referencing is clear, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive phrasing, making the overall structure very coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'experienced the largest percentage increase' and 'showed very little change' are natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it remains largely standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items, though the current usage is error-free and fits the context well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of 'while' clauses to combine information. The accuracy is high, with no significant errors in punctuation or syntax that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense usage (past tense for 2015/2016 data) is consistent. To push into the higher bands, you could experiment with a greater variety of complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses or more varied subordinate clauses.

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

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