Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22

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 bar chart demonstrates the rate of a country export in various goods during 2015 and 2016 . The table depicts the change in percentage in each type of exports in 2016 and its comparisons with 2015. Overall , the most prominent features is the highest petroleum products.

Now turning to details , the petroleum products have almost 70 bi ions 2016 and almost equal in 2015 . In contrast, the engineered goods have almost the same ratio . Gems and jewellery also have a small difference . The agriculture product export in 2015 and 2016 approximately 40 bi ions . Furthermore, the textiles have almost 45 bi ions in 2016 and 35 bi ion in 2015.

The percentage changes in petroleum goods increases 3 percent .The engineered goods increases 8.5 percent . While jewellery and gems decreases 5.18 percent . In addition to it , agriculture product increases 0.81 percent . The textiles have highest change in percentage which is 15.24 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by summarizing the main features of the provided data. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the highest category and mention the percentage changes, the description of the data is often inaccurate or lacks precision (e.g., 'almost 70 bi ions' is vague and contains a typo). The overview is present but could be more clearly defined. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited accurately and that comparisons between categories are more analytical rather than just listing figures. The report covers all parts of the prompt, but the development of the main features is inconsistent.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'Now turning to details' and 'In addition to it'. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from an overview to specific data points and then to percentage changes. However, the referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors and non-standard terms, such as 'bi ions' (presumably for billions) and 'rate of a country export'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on repetitive structures like 'increases' and 'decreases'. To improve, you should use more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'experienced a growth of' or 'witnessed a decline', and ensure that units of measurement are correctly identified and spelled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the most prominent features is the highest petroleum products' (subject-verb agreement) and 'the petroleum products have almost 70 bi ions 2016' (missing preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions.

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

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