Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-17

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 6.5)

The chart illustrates the percentage change value of one country's exports in multiple categories in 2016 compared with 2015.

Overall, it is clear that textiles have the highest percentage increase, while the gems and jewellery value had declined. Another notable feature is that agriculture products remained relatively stable with only a small increase throughout the period.

Looking at petroleum products, the product with an originally high value. It stood at 60 billion in 2015, before having a percentage increase worth 3% in 2016. Similarly, engineered goods had a greater rise in value worth 8.5%.

Turning to textiles that had dramatically increased in value with a percentage reaching 15.24%, making it the greatest percentage increase compared to the other categories. On the other hand, gems and jewellery had a significant decrease of value worth 5.18%, making it the only product that fell in price.

Lastly, agricultural products had a slight increase that could count as no major change as it is less than 1%. We could say it remained stable with only a 0.81% increase in value.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main features and provides a clear overview. You have successfully highlighted the highest increase (textiles) and the only decline (gems and jewellery). The comparison between categories is generally well-handled. However, the report could be improved by integrating the 2015 values more consistently across all categories rather than focusing primarily on petroleum. While you mention that petroleum stood at 60 billion, you do not provide the corresponding values for other categories, which limits the depth of the comparison. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are used to support all analytical claims throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by category. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Looking at', 'Turning to', and 'On the other hand' helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between the overview and the specific details could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the 2015 values and the percentage changes could be more tightly linked to improve the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'remained relatively stable', 'dramatically increased', and 'significant decrease' are used appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'percentage change value' (which is slightly redundant) and 'worth 3%' (where 'of' would be more natural). You attempt to use specific terminology related to the data, which is good. To improve, try to vary your reporting verbs and avoid repeating the word 'value' too frequently, opting instead for synonyms or rephrasing the sentence structure to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'Looking at petroleum products, the product with an originally high value' is a sentence fragment. Additionally, 'before having a percentage increase worth 3%' is slightly awkward phrasing. There are also minor punctuation and preposition errors, such as 'decrease of value worth 5.18%'. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, focus on ensuring that all sentences are complete and work on refining the use of complex structures to avoid minor slips.

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

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