Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-11
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 illustrates the export of different things by the country in two different years and they earned revenue from these things. Looking from an overall perspective it is apparent that exports of petroleum products were highest and textiles export were lowest in 2015 and 2016.
firstly, the export of petroleum products was at 70 billion dollars in 2015 while in 2016 the export slightly grew up which was at approximately 72 billion dollars. Moreover, the export of engineering goods in 2015 was nearly 68 billion dollars while in 2016 it was slighly higher than 70 billion dollars.
Secondly, gems and jewellery export industries in 2015 was at 50 billion dollars while in 2016 the export slightly decreased to 48 billion dollars. futhermore the agriculture products export remained the same in 2015 and 2016 at approximately 40 billion dollars. In addition the textiles industries export was increased signifcantly it was approximately 35 billion dollars in 2015 and export in 2016 at 42 billion dollars.
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
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and providing relevant data points for both years. You successfully highlighted the highest and lowest categories and noted the trends. However, the task instructions mentioned a table showing the percentage change, which you completely omitted. To reach a higher band, you must incorporate all provided data sets. While your overview is clear, the analysis could be more analytical by grouping categories by their performance (e.g., those that increased versus those that decreased) rather than just listing them sequentially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear overall progression. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'firstly', 'moreover', and 'secondly' to link your ideas. However, the transition between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For example, the final sentence is a bit run-on and lacks a clear cohesive link to the previous point about agriculture. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between the data points would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrases like 'export of' and 'was at'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'signifcantly' and 'futhermore'. To improve, try to use a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and avoid repeating the same sentence structures. Using more precise terminology related to economic data, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marginal rise', would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'textiles export were lowest' (should be 'textile exports were') and 'export of petroleum products was at 70 billion' (missing articles). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as missing commas after introductory phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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