Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12
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 5.0)
The provided bar graph depicts the amount of export earning by five different sector in 2015 and 2016. As well as the table illustrates the proportion fluctuate in each category in year of 2016 compared with 2015. However, jewellery sector showed downside moment in 2016.
Overall, it is clear that all the sectors showed upward growth, expects of gems and jewellery sector that showed 5.18% downward growth.
In 2015, petroleum products accounted for 70 billion Doller. Which was the highest category to export in this year, whereas the textile sector was showed the least amount of exported ( approximately 35 billion Doller). The second highest sector was engineered goods. Which exported amount around 65 billion Doller. As well as gems and jewellery stood at near 55 billion Doller. In 2016, textile sector increased slightly and reached at above two fifth billion Doller. Engineered goods and petroleum products moved upsides as compare to past year ( above 70 billion Doller). While agriculture products showed same result in both year( around 41 billion Doller).
After observing table showed proportion changes in product category in 2015 and 2016.
Textile and engineered goods grew upward 15.24% and 8.5% and petroleum products and agriculture rose slightly 3% and 0.81% respectively. While, Gems and jewellery was a gradual drop in 2016 ( 5.18%).
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to cover the main features of the chart and table, noting petroleum products as the highest earner and pointing out the downward trend in the gems and jewellery sector. However, there are several inaccurate data interpretations and generalisations. For instance, the student states that the textile sector reached 'above two fifth billion Doller' in 2016, which is unclear and factually incorrect based on standard chart data. Additionally, some descriptions lack precision, such as referring to 'around 41 billion Doller' for agriculture products. While the overall overview is present, the inaccuracies in data reporting prevent the response from achieving a higher band. It satisfies the core requirements of summarising the charts but struggles with precise data extraction and reporting, placing it comfortably at a Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body paragraphs that attempt to discuss the data sequentially. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by fragmented sentences and poor paragraph structuring. For example, sentences like 'Which was the highest category to export in this year' and 'As well as gems and jewellery stood at near 55 billion Doller' demonstrate faulty referencing and disconnected ideas. The final paragraph starts with a fragment: 'After observing table showed proportion changes in product category in 2015 and 2016.' Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes inappropriately, such as 'However' used incorrectly at the end of the introductory paragraph. Paragraphing is attempted but internal cohesion remains weak, justifying a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses a limited range of vocabulary with frequent errors in word choice and spelling. Examples include 'export earning' instead of earnings, 'downside moment' instead of downward trend, 'Doller' instead of dollar, and 'expects' instead of except. While the student attempts less common vocabulary like 'proportion fluctuate' and 'gradual drop', these attempts are marred by inaccurate collocations and grammatical forms (e.g., 'proportion fluctuate' should be proportional fluctuations or percentages). Spelling errors such as 'Doller' and lexical slips significantly affect the precision of the writing. The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey basic trends, but persistent inaccuracies align this response with a Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The text contains a very limited range of structures and frequent grammatical errors. There are numerous sentence fragments, such as 'Which was the highest category to export in this year' and 'Which exported amount around 65 billion Doller,' where relative clauses are punctuated as complete sentences. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are also problematic, as seen in 'textile sector was showed' and 'products moved upsides as compare to past year.' Punctuation is frequently misused, with missing commas or misplaced full stops that break up syntactic units. Although there are a few correct simple and compound structures, the high frequency of basic structural errors causes considerable difficulty for the reader, resulting in a Band 4.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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