Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The bar chart shows the value of one country's exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016.
The cost of petroleum products is $60 whereas in 2016 the expenditure made on petroleum products is $ 65 The second category is engineering goods in 2015 the expenditure made on enginneering goods is $ 60 whereas in 2016 65% of income is spent on engineering goods.
The third category is gems and jewellery in 2015 the expenditure made on gems and jewellery in 2015 is $ 50 whereas in 2016 the cost of gems and jewellery is $ 45 the next category is agricultural products in 2015 the expenditure made on agfricultural products is $ 40 whereas in second year the cost of agricultural products is $ 45
The fifth and last category is textile in 2015, the amount of money spent on textiles is $ 30 whereas in 2016 the expenditure made on textiles is $ 40
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the data, but it fails to address the second part of the prompt, which asks for the percentage change. The student only reports the absolute values for 2015 and 2016. Furthermore, the analysis is purely descriptive, listing figures category by category without providing a clear overview or making meaningful comparisons between the categories. The inclusion of '65% of income' for engineering goods in 2016 is a misinterpretation of the data provided in the table. To improve, you must include the percentage change figures and group the data to highlight trends rather than listing every data point individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the flow is mechanical and repetitive. Each sentence follows an identical structure ('The [category] is... in 2015... whereas in 2016...'), which makes the text feel like a list rather than a cohesive report. There is a lack of linking words or cohesive devices to connect ideas or contrast the data points effectively. The punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing full stops, which disrupts the logical progression of the information. Using a wider variety of transition signals would significantly improve the readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying heavily on the phrase 'expenditure made on' to describe the export values. This is inaccurate, as the prompt refers to the 'value of exports,' not expenditure. There are also spelling errors such as 'enginneering' and 'agfricultural'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic information, it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. To improve, you should use a broader range of synonyms for 'value,' 'increase,' and 'decrease,' and ensure that you use terms that accurately reflect the context of international trade.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on simple sentence structures throughout. There is a lack of complex grammatical forms, and the accuracy is inconsistent. There are several errors in punctuation, such as missing full stops between sentences, and some awkward phrasing, such as 'whereas in second year the cost of agricultural products is $ 45'. The use of articles and prepositions is occasionally incorrect. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of structural variety and the presence of frequent minor errors limit the score. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or participial phrases, would help demonstrate better grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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