Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01

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 displays the information about the amount spent, which is measured in billions of dollars, by the country on the various categories (petroleum products, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agriculture products and textiles) in between 2015 to 2016 while the table illustrates the proportion of change in those categories by comparing in the same years.

Overall, in the terms of petroleum products, the country spent more on this in 2016 as opposed to in 2015. The expenditure on textiles was lower in 2015 as compared to 2016.

In terms of petroleum products, the country spent more on this approximately 65 billions dollars in 2016 as opposed to in 2015 of amount exactly 60 billions dollars and the percentage of petroleum products was also increased by 3%. The expenditure on engineered goods were higher in 2016 of amount exactly 60 billions dollars as compared to 2015 of amount approximately 55 billions dollars and 8.5% of value was increased during that period of time.

The country spent higher on the gems and jewellery category in 2015 of amount approximately 42 billions dollars as compared to 2016 of amount exactly 40 billions dollars but decrease of 5.18% in their value. In terms of agriculture products, the country spent approximately same amount on that and 0.81% of increase in value. the country pent least on the textiles and the value of textile was higher in 2016 of amount exactly 30 billions dollars as opposed to in 2015 of value approximately 25 billions dollars and 15.24% value was increased.

Advice for Next Attempt

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons between the two years. You covered all categories mentioned in the prompt. However, the response lacks a clear, concise overview that synthesizes the trends. Instead, the overview paragraph focuses on specific details rather than summarizing the general patterns. To improve, ensure your overview highlights the most significant trends, such as which categories saw the most growth or decline, rather than listing individual data points. The data is generally accurate, but the structure of the report could be more analytical to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, you frequently use 'in terms of' and 'as opposed to' to start sentences. Additionally, there are some minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the abrupt start to the final sentence ('the country pent least...'). To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences are smoother to create a more cohesive narrative throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, such as 'expenditure', 'proportion', and 'categories'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'amount exactly 60 billions dollars' (should be 'a value of exactly 60 billion dollars') and 'the country pent least' (likely a typo for 'spent'). The repetition of 'amount' and 'value' throughout the text limits the sophistication of your writing. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would help demonstrate a more flexible control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('The expenditure on engineered goods were higher') and preposition usage ('in between 2015 to 2016'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'in 2015 of amount exactly 42 billions dollars'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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