Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-10

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 6.5)

The provided bar charts compare a country's exports in different categories between 2015 and 2016. To summarize, most of the products saw a rise in their exports in comparison to the previous year. However, the textiles sector grew considerably over a period of one year, but the gems and jewellery experienced a slight decline in their exports in 2016.

The fuel products and the engineering items witnessed 3 percent and 8.5 percent growth, and their exports were at 60 and approximately 55 billion dollars in 2015 respectively, and both reached around 62 billion dollars in 2016. Furthermore, the agricultural products saw a marginal increase of just 0.81 percent and surged to just over 40 billion dollars in 2016. While the textile goods underwent a significant increase of 15.24% and attained the 40 billion dollars mark in 2016. On the other hand, the gems and jewellery exports dipped from 50 billion dollars in 2015 to around 45 billion dollars in 2016. The overall percentage drop was 5.18 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the data, including the overall trend of growth and the specific decline in gems and jewellery. You have selected relevant data points to support your summary, such as the percentage changes and the specific dollar values for 2015 and 2016. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully accurate; for instance, the claim that fuel and engineering items both reached 'around 62 billion' requires more precise differentiation based on the provided data, as the growth rates (3% vs 8.5%) would result in different final figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by body paragraphs that group information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The progression of ideas is clear, and the information flows well from one point to the next without unnecessary repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'witnessed... growth', 'marginal increase', and 'underwent a significant increase' are used effectively. There is some awareness of style and collocation, which is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a slightly wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' or 'decrease' (such as 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', or 'escalated') would enhance the sophistication of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the control over grammar and punctuation is generally good. There are minor issues, such as the phrasing 'While the textile goods underwent...', which is a sentence fragment as it lacks a main clause. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The use of comparative structures is generally accurate, and the tense usage is consistent with reporting past data.

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