Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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)
This bar chart compares the value of exports, in US dollars, across five product categories in 2015 and 2016. The accompanying data also shows the percentage change between these two years.
Overall, four out of five categories saw an increase in export value from 2015 to 2016, with textiles experiencing the most significant growth. Petroleum products and engineered goods were the highest value exports in both years.
In terms of details, petroleum product remained the top export, with values of just over $60 billions in both years, representing a 3% rise. Engineered goods were the second largest, increasing by 8.5% to reach approximately $62 billion in 2016.
Gems was only category to decline, failing by 5.18% to around $50 billion. Agricultural product showed a modest increase of 0.18% staying close to $40 billion.
The most dramatic change was in textiles, which grew up by 15.24% to reach about $38 billion, although it remained the lowest value overall.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main features, such as the overall growth in most categories and the specific performance of textiles and gems. The inclusion of data points for both years and the percentage changes demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt. The overview is concise and accurately reflects the data trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, you mention petroleum products were the highest value, but the data suggests engineered goods were slightly higher in 2016. Double-checking these figures against the visual data is crucial for accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of details' and 'The most dramatic change' to guide the reader. However, some transitions could be smoother. For example, the jump between the overview and the body paragraphs is functional but could be more sophisticated. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the progression of ideas from general trends to specific category analysis is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'most significant growth' and 'modest increase' are used effectively. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'failing by 5.18%' (should be 'falling') and 'grew up by' (the 'up' is redundant). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'declined' or 'surged,' would enhance the professional tone of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the majority of sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'petroleum product remained' (should be plural 'products') and 'Gems was only category' (missing the article 'the'). Additionally, 'failing by 5.18%' is a verb choice error. Despite these issues, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles when referring to specific categories.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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