Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21
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 given graph shows the variety of products exported during the year 2015 and 2016. And the table shows the variation of exported products in percentage from 2015 to 2016.
It can be seen from the chart that petroleum products were the highest in value, which were exported in both the years. It was almost similar to 65 billion $ in both the years. Followed by the engineered goods became the second highest in terms of value, which were exported and it was 60 and 65 billion $ for the years 2015 and 2016 respectively. Remaining categories were Gems and jewellery, agricultural products. Textile products were the least exported in both the years compared to other categories.
The table shows that, highest increased in export was seen in the textiles from 2015 to 2016, which was 15%. On the other hand, export of gems and jewellery were decreased at 5%. Products of other categories shown the increased in export from nearly 1% to 10%.
All in one can be ascertained that demand of textiles had been increased in the international market.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the highest and lowest values and the percentage changes. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention petroleum products were 'almost similar' at 65 billion, but the data shows a clear difference between 60 and 65. The overview is also weak; 'All in one can be ascertained' is not a standard way to introduce a summary. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a clearer, more analytical overview that synthesizes the trends rather than just listing data points. You should also ensure all figures are accurately represented from the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'It can be seen from the chart' and 'The table shows that' are used as standard templates. The transition between the description of the bar chart and the table is abrupt. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure that your referencing (e.g., 'remaining categories') is more precise to avoid ambiguity.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey the information, such as 'exported', 'categories', and 'percentage change'. However, there are some awkward word choices and phrasing, such as 'highest increased in export' instead of 'the greatest increase in exports' and 'products of other categories shown the increased'. These errors occasionally make the text feel slightly unnatural. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure you are using the correct word forms (e.g., nouns vs. verbs) when describing trends and data variations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'which were exported in both the years' (should be 'in both years') and 'export of gems and jewellery were decreased' (should be 'decreased by'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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