Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03
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 graph represents the monetary value of exports in several categories in the year 2015-16. The tables shows differences in percentage of exports in 2016 in comparison to 2015. The 5 broadly classified categories are: Petroleum products, Engineered goods, Gems and jewellery, Agricultural products and Textiles.
Overall in the graph, the highest number of export earning in 2015 and 2016 was made from petroleum products. The lowest earnings was from export of textiles in both the years. The earnings in 2016 has increased as compared to 2015.
In 2016, the agricultural and textiles ended up almost the same amount that is around $40 billion. The sales of agricultural products in 2015 and 16 remained nearly constant for about $40 billion. In 2015, The revenue from gems and jewellery was about $8 billion more than 2016.
From the table, there is a clear rise of 8.5% in engineered goods. Gems and jewellery fell by 5.18%. Engineered goods rose by 3%. Agricultural products showed a slight increase by 0.81%. With all the figures textiles topped the list by an increase of 15.24%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of the data, such as the dominance of petroleum products and the growth in textiles. However, the response lacks precision in reporting the data. For example, you state that agricultural products and textiles ended up at 'around $40 billion' in 2016, but the graph shows these values are distinct. Furthermore, the summary of the percentage changes in the final paragraph is slightly confusing because you mention 'engineered goods' twice with different percentages (8.5% and 3%), which contradicts the provided data. To improve, ensure that your data points are accurate and that you clearly distinguish between the two sets of information provided (the bar chart and the table).
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use an introductory sentence, an overview, and body paragraphs to group the data. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Transitions between sentences could be smoother; for instance, the jump between discussing the values in billions and the percentage changes in the final paragraph feels abrupt. Using more sophisticated linking words such as 'conversely', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore' would help improve the flow and logical progression of your ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'monetary value', 'broadly classified', and 'revenue'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'highest number of export earning' (should be 'highest export earnings') and 'ended up almost the same amount' (which is informal). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive structures. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher score.
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 some grammatical errors, such as 'The tables shows' (subject-verb agreement) and 'The lowest earnings was' (should be 'were'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as 'In 2015, The revenue'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage (e.g., ensuring you consistently use the past tense when referring to 2015/2016 data) will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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