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 demonstrate the exports record of an country in numerous categories. Data provided for years 2015 to 2016 and they have been compared.
Both years have more or less same export value in each category. However, country has earned a lot from Petroleum products and least from textile goods in both years. But, 2016 was an amazing year for exports. Roughly more than 250 billion dollars were earned by the country in 2016. That is more than 2015 exports revenue.
Engineering products have gained an increase of 8.5% in 2016 as compare to last year . Despite of an overall increase in 2016 exports, the worth of Gems and jewellery has decreased on an rate of 5.18%. In 2016 textile products have an boost of 15.24% as compare to 2015. Petroleum and agriculture have an least increase of about 3% and 0.81%. All these rises make the year 2016 an astonishing year for exports.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall export values and the percentage changes. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, you mention that 2016 was an 'amazing' year, which is subjective and not appropriate for an academic report. While you identify the categories with the highest and lowest increases, the comparison between 2015 and 2016 could be more precise. You mention 'roughly more than 250 billion dollars' without clearly referencing the specific data points provided in the table. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately interpreted and that the summary focuses strictly on objective trends rather than emotive language.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'However' and 'Despite of', though the latter is grammatically incorrect. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from an overview to specific category details. However, the connection between sentences could be smoother. Some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally vague, such as 'That is more than 2015 exports revenue'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'amazing' and 'boost', which are not ideal for formal report writing. There are also some collocation errors, such as 'at an rate of' and 'have an least increase'. While you successfully use some topic-specific terms like 'export value' and 'categories', the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and avoid informal or emotive adjectives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'The bar graph demonstrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'an country' (article error), and 'as compare to' (incorrect prepositional phrase). Additionally, 'Despite of' is a common error; it should be 'Despite' or 'In spite of'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition 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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