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 addresses 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 absolute values and percentage changes demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt. The overview is concise and highlights the most significant trends, which is a key requirement for Band 8. The information is well-selected, and the comparisons between categories are relevant and logically presented throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, moving from an introduction and overview to detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'contrastingly', 'similarly', and 'notably' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the data presented.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information with precision. Phrases such as 'notable variation', 'minimal change', 'remarkable increase', and 'profound growth' demonstrate a good command of descriptive language. The terminology is accurate and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is effective, it could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band, but it is certainly sufficient to demonstrate flexibility and precision. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('resulting in revenues of...') and subordinate clauses ('which translates to...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation is excellent. The grammar is sophisticated enough to allow for clear and precise reporting of the data. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader, and the sentence structures are varied enough to maintain interest and clarity throughout the text.

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

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