Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23
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 illustrates the Export earning from five different categories of one country's from 2016 to 2016. The table also shows the change in export percentage in each category in 2016 compared with 2015.
Overall, it can be seen that Export earing was increased in 2016 as compared to 2015, and it accounted highest earing from petroleum products and engineer goods in both the years, Where as textile and agriculture experienced lowest earing among all five categories.
In 2015, Petroleum product earned 65 Billion which is highest income among all five categories where as the marginal increased experienced in 2016. Similarly, engineer goods experienced rise in earning in 2016 and it was the second most export earning products. In contrast, Gems and jewellery earned around 52 billion which drop 50 billion in 2016.
Export earning from Agricultural products was similar in both years around 40 Billion. where as textile also accounted 40 billion in 2016 which was higher than 2015.
In 2016, Gems and Jewellery experienced drop about 5.18% where as Textiles product climbed to 15.24%, followed by engineer goods 8.5% then petroleum products 3% and agriculture comparised minimal growth about 0.81%
24%
18
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 export values and the percentage changes. However, there are inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state that petroleum products earned 65 billion in 2015, but the chart shows 60 billion. Additionally, the description of the percentage changes is somewhat disjointed from the main body paragraphs. While you have identified the key trends, the lack of precision in data extraction and the inclusion of some confusing figures (e.g., '24% 18' at the end) detract from the overall clarity. To improve, ensure that every figure cited matches the source material exactly and group your data more logically to highlight the most significant comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or misused. For example, the transition 'Where as' is used incorrectly at the start of sentences, and the flow between the description of the values and the percentage changes is abrupt. The final paragraph contains disconnected numbers that lack context, which disrupts the logical progression of the text. Using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'categories', 'marginal', and 'minimal growth'. However, there are several spelling errors ('earing' instead of 'earnings', 'engineer goods' instead of 'engineered goods', 'comparised' instead of 'comprised') and some awkward collocations. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using the correct terminology for data analysis and ensure you proofread for common spelling mistakes. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and adjectives will also help you describe the trends more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('Export earing was increased'), article usage ('the highest income'), and prepositional phrases. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and incorrect capitalisation after full stops. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent use of articles and verb tenses will help you achieve a higher level of accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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