Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20

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 8.0)

The bar graph and accompanying table illustrate the export revenues of a country across five distinct product categories for the years 2015 and 2016, alongside the percentage changes experienced within this period.

Overall, there was a notable variation in export values, with the most significant increase recorded in textiles, while agricultural products exhibited minimal change.

In 2015, the export earnings from petroleum products amounted to approximately $60 billion, however, this figure experienced a slight decline of 3% in 2016, resulting in revenues of around $58 billion. Engineered goods, contrastingly, saw a remarkable increase from $50 billion in 2015 to $54 billion in 2016, marking an increase of 8.5%. Similarly, agricultural products remained stable at around $22 billion, reflecting a modest rise of 0.81% over the same period.

The category of gems and jewellery faced a downturn, with exports decreasing from about $42 billion in 2015 to approximately $38 billion in 2016, corresponding to a decrease of 5.18%. Notably, textiles demonstrated the most profound growth, with revenues increasing sharply from around $18 billion to approximately $20 billion, which translates to a substantial rise of 15.24%. Such patterns underline the fluctuations within the export landscape while highlighting textiles as a notable growth sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the growth in textiles and the decline in petroleum and gems. The data is accurately reported, and the inclusion of both the raw figures and the percentage changes demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt. The overview is concise and highlights the most significant trends, which is essential for a high band score. You have made relevant comparisons between categories, such as contrasting the growth of engineered goods with the stability of agricultural products. The response is well-structured and provides a comprehensive summary of the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'however', 'contrastingly', 'similarly', and 'notably' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific category details. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the data. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall flow of the text is natural and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'export revenues', 'notable variation', 'downturn', and 'profound growth' with precision. The language is appropriate for an academic report. There is a good level of flexibility in your word choice, which helps to avoid repetition. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or nuanced synonyms could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey the information clearly and effectively without any noticeable errors in word choice or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation is excellent. You have successfully used comparative structures and accurate tense usage to describe the data from 2015 and 2016. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentence variety contributes to the overall readability of the report. The accuracy is high, and the few structures used are handled with confidence, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for this task.

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