Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
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 table illustrates the change in value of country's exports in different categories from 2015 to 2016 respectively. comparison made in figures of billion.
Overall, petroleum products and engineered products were on peak of table in terms of export, while agricultural products and textiles were at the bottom line. Gems and jewellery were the only one who recorded downfall in 2016.
However, petroleum products had most exports, but increased only 3 percent from 2015 to2016 year. Compared with engineered goods inclined sharply almost 8.5 percent from previous year to 2016.
Gems and jewellery fluctuated considerably by following declined trend to 5.18 percent compared with preceding year.
Agricultural products remains stable in exports table by just increased 0.18 percent in 2016 compared by 2015 year.
even though textiles made a lowest exports
compared with other commodities, still stood tall by recording a huge increase of 15.24 percent in annual abroad sales.
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 export values and the percentage changes. However, the report lacks a clear presentation of the actual export values in billions, which were provided in the table. By focusing almost exclusively on the percentage changes, the response misses an opportunity to fully compare the categories. While the overview is present, it is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that both the absolute values and the percentage changes are integrated more effectively to provide a comprehensive summary of the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as starting sentences with 'However' or 'Even though' in a way that does not always flow naturally from the previous point. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the opening sentence where 'respectively' is used without a clear list to refer back to. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fluctuated', 'commodities', and 'preceding year'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'on peak of table', 'downfall', and 'stood tall'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your report. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary choices are appropriate for a formal report. Avoid informal phrasing like 'stood tall' when describing statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in 2016 compared with 2015 year'), incorrect preposition usage ('compared by 2015'), and issues with subject-verb agreement ('Agricultural products remains'). While these errors are frequent, they rarely cause confusion for the reader. To achieve a higher score, you need to improve your control over basic grammar, particularly articles and prepositions, and aim for more error-free complex sentences. Proofreading for these small but consistent errors would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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