Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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 chart illustrates the export earnings of five different products generated by a country during 2015 and 2016 while the table delineates the change in values of those products.

Overall, Textiles has the highest increase in sales and petroleum products finished on second position. Export of engineered goods also goes higher: However, agricultural sector has a little impact and gems and jewellery product's export decreased.

petroleum products generated 60 billion dollars in the year 2015 and with 8.5% increase the value goes up to more then 60 billion by 2016. Export of engineered goods were more then 50 billion in 2015 and by 2016 their value increased by 3%.

Gems and jewellery sector was contributing more then 40 billion dollars in the economy but this sector shrink down a little and by 2016 it earned less then $40 billion with value of 5.18%. Small sectors like textiles shows a dramatic incline and starting from less than 30 billions in 2015 this sector contributed more then 30 billion dollars by in 2016 with a decent 15.24% change in values. Agricultural sector remains almost same during 2015 and 16 with just 0.18% increase in the sales. This sector was generating 30 billion in 2015 and by 2016 the goes slightly higher then 30 billion dollars

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all categories and provides a clear overview. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, you state petroleum products increased by 8.5% to reach 'more than 60 billion', but the table shows a 3% increase for engineered goods and 8.5% for petroleum. Furthermore, you mention the gems and jewellery sector 'earned less than 40 billion' with a 'value of 5.18%', which misinterprets the percentage change as a value. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the distinction between absolute values (billions) and percentage changes is clearly maintained throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'However, agricultural sector has a little impact' is used to contrast, but the following sentence structure is awkward. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the phrase 'the goes slightly higher', which lacks a clear subject. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows logically from the previous one would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'delineates', 'generated', and 'contributed'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'finished on second position' (should be 'ranked second') and 'shrink down a little' (should be 'contracted' or 'declined'). There are also minor spelling and grammatical errors related to word forms, such as 'product's' instead of 'products'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'textiles shows', 'sector remains') and comparative structures (e.g., 'more then' instead of 'more than'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. To achieve a higher band, you need to increase the frequency of error-free sentences and pay closer attention to basic grammatical rules, such as the correct use of 'than' versus 'then' and consistent verb tense usage.

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

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