Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-15

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 bar graph illustrates the export of distinct items such as petroleum products, engineering goods, Gems and jewellery , Agriculture products and textiles over two years from 2015 to 2016 measured in billions.

Overall the recorded figures for petroleum products were at the topped in the chart relative to the other categories whereas textiles items were plummet in both years , a marginal dip was experienced in agricultural products by comparing timeline .

However petroleum products were dramatically surged with marginal reduction in 2015 and in 2016 it is registered above the 6 million while in the term of engineering objects it is recorded as 5 billion in 2015 and relatively increase in 2016 about 6 billion .

In contrast gems and jewellery freights were about 50 billion in 2015 with minimal dip in 2016 achieved to 48 billion dollar , while in Agricultural products it has remained plateaued with negligible difference , however in case of textile items cargo in various countries were ranked at the bottom of the chart which if figured as 35 billion in 2015 and maximized to 40 billion in 2016 .

The percentage value from 2015 to 2016 petrolium products were higher then Engineering goods by 3% whereas gems and jewelry objects were lower in 5.18% and Agriculture products registered as the lower percentage value over the other which is 0.81% .On the other hand textile value percentage recoded as 15.24% which is highest to cargo items.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all categories and included both the absolute values and the percentage changes. However, there are some inaccuracies in your reporting of the data. For example, you state that petroleum products were 'registered above the 6 million' and engineering goods increased to '6 billion', which does not align with the provided table figures. Additionally, some descriptions are contradictory, such as stating that textile items were 'plummet' while later noting they 'maximized to 40 billion'. To improve, ensure that your data points are transcribed accurately from the source and that your summary reflects the actual trends shown in the table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In contrast', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the logical progression is sometimes hindered by confusing sentence structures and inaccurate data reporting. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, and some transitions feel mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each paragraph has a clear central theme and that the logical flow between sentences is smoother, avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have attempted to use a range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'marginal dip', 'plateaued', and 'negligible difference'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'freights were about', 'textile items cargo', and 'petroleum products were at the topped'. Some terms are used incorrectly, such as 'maximized' to describe an increase. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the lack of precision and occasional misuse of terms limit the score. Focus on learning the correct collocations for describing trends in charts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'textiles items were plummet'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'which if figured as 35 billion'). There are also punctuation errors and issues with sentence fragments. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentences have a clear subject and verb.

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

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