Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The given bar graph illustrates the value of one country's export earnings across five categories from 2015 to 2016. The table compares the proportional change between each category.
Overall, petroleum was the most highly exported product, while textiles were the least. Notably, the agricultural products marginally remained stable across two years.
In 2016, petroleum was the most demanded product, which accounted for over 60%, whereas agricultural and textile products were the least, which recorded over 40%. A similar pattern was displayed in 2015 as well, where petroleum was the most exported product, while textiles remained the least. Additionally, in petroleum products, engineered goods and textiles, more export took place in 2016, whereas in gems and jewellery and agricultural products, most export happened during 2015.
The percentage change in values from 2015 to 2016 displayed that textiles, engineered goods and petroleum products showed a surge, accounting for 15.24%, 8.5% and 3%, respectively. By contrast, gems and jewellery dipped to 5.18%, while agricultural products rose modestly to 0.81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all parts of the task, including the bar graph and the table. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dominance of petroleum and the trends in growth or decline. However, there are some inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, you state that agricultural and textile products accounted for 'over 40%', which is not supported by the provided data. Additionally, the description of the percentage change is slightly confusing in its phrasing. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited with greater precision and that the relationship between the two data sets (the graph and the table) is more clearly integrated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall', 'In 2016', and 'By contrast', to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas within the third paragraph is somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the categories in the third paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportional change', 'surge', and 'modestly'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'most export happened', which is slightly unnatural. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some of the phrasing is repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to data reporting, such as 'experienced a significant increase' or 'remained relatively constant'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear, and the errors present do not impede communication. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'agricultural products marginally remained stable', where 'remained relatively stable' would be more accurate. You also have some issues with preposition usage and tense consistency when referring to the data. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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