Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-31

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 6.0)

The provided representation demonstrates the percentage of the different categories of products exported by a country throughout the years 2015 and 2016 and each category exports of 2015 are compared to 2016 exports.

Overall, the petroleum and engineered goods had highest revenue between 2015 and 2016 but textile experienced the largest jump in percentage among all categories, while other categories faced respectable growth and dump.

To begin with, the petroleum products which were highest among others in 2015 made around $65 billion, however in the latter year it had a tiny upward trend which earned a little over $65 billion at the percentage of 3%. the other category was engineered goods, in it is first year, it gained less than $60 billion, whereas in the next year, it escalated from $60 billion to over $65 billion at 8.5%.

Furthermore, the gems and jewelry had earned well over $50 billion in 2015, while it made less than previously and faced a dip at 5.18%. Whereas, agriculture products generated almost same over $40B in both 2015 and 2016 years with a very tiny spike of 0.81% in 2016. But textile had a completely different story as during 2015 it made roughly $35b but in 2016, it had an enormous upward trend at 15.24% and created over $40 billion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the data, including the values for 2015 and 2016 and the percentage changes. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewelry. However, the overview is slightly imprecise; using terms like 'respectable growth and dump' is informal and lacks the analytical precision required for an Academic Task 1. Additionally, while you mention the figures, the comparison between categories could be more integrated to highlight the relative performance more effectively. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the prompt well, but the analytical depth could be improved by focusing more on the comparative significance of the data points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Furthermore,' and 'whereas' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow within paragraphs is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'in it is first year' or 'the other category was engineered goods'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and there is a clear progression of information from the general overview to specific category details. To reach a higher band, ensure that cohesive devices are used more naturally to connect sentences and ideas rather than just acting as signposts.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'upward trend,' 'escalated,' and 'spike.' However, there are instances of imprecise or non-academic word choices, such as 'dump' (likely meant 'decline' or 'dip') and 'made' (which is repetitive). Phrases like 'a tiny upward trend' and 'a very tiny spike' are somewhat informal. To improve, focus on using more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis, such as 'fluctuated,' 'remained stable,' or 'experienced a marginal increase.' The spelling and word-choice errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in it is first year' (should be 'in its'), 'the petroleum and engineered goods had highest revenue' (missing articles), and 'in both 2015 and 2016 years' (redundant). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly run-on. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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