Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The bar chart illustrates the export earnings of five different sectors in 2015 and 2016, while the table shows the percentage change in export values in 2016 compared with 2015.
Overall, export earnings increased in all sectors except gems and jewellery, which experienced a decline of 5.18%. Textile products recorded the most significant growth, whereas agriculture showed only a marginal increase.
In 2015, petroleum products generated the highest export earnings, at approximately $70 billion, followed by engineered goods at around $65 billion. Gems and jewellery accounted for nearly $55 billion, while agricultural products generated about $41 billion. Textile products had the lowest export earnings, at approximately $35 billion.
In 2016, export earnings from textile products rose considerably to around $40 billion. Engineered goods and petroleum products also increased, reaching approximately $70 billion and $75 billion respectively. Agricultural products remained almost unchanged at around $41 billion. In contrast, gems and jewellery experienced a decrease compared with the previous year.
According to the table, textile products recorded the highest percentage growth, at 15.24%, followed by engineered goods at 8.5%. Petroleum products and agricultural products increased by 3% and 0.81%, respectively. Meanwhile, gems and jewellery was the only sector to experience a decline, falling by 5.18%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student provides a clear, well-structured overview of the main features shown in the visual data, successfully covering both the 2015/2016 export earnings and the table displaying percentage changes. The response begins with a clear introduction that paraphrases the prompt effectively, followed by a logical overall summary. Key data points, such as petroleum products generating the highest earnings at approximately $70 billion in 2015, and textile products recording the highest percentage growth at 15.24%, are accurately selected, reported, and compared. The information is fully supported by figures from the charts without unnecessary repetition. Overall, all parts of the task are well-addressed, demonstrating a strong ability to select and compare key features appropriately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organised into five well-defined paragraphs, featuring a clear introduction, an overall trend summary, body paragraphs detailing the specific figures for each year, and a concluding summary of the percentage changes from the table. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, allowing the reader to follow the progression of data easily. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'while the table shows', 'followed by', 'In contrast', and 'Meanwhile', without being overly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the visual data, ensuring smooth transitions between the bar chart details and the table statistics.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms relevant to data reporting, such as 'export earnings', 'sector', 'percentage growth', 'marginal increase', and 'decline'. Less common vocabulary items are attempted with good awareness of style and collocation, as seen in expressions like 'most significant growth' and 'experienced a decrease'. Word choice is generally precise, and spelling is entirely accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is well-suited to handle the topic effectively, it stops just short of the wide, highly flexible range required for higher band levels, maintaining a solid, reliable standard.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The student displays good control of grammatical structures, successfully integrating a variety of complex sentence forms, such as participle clauses ('while the table shows...', 'following by engineered goods at...') and concessive structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex structures are handled with accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list data points. Minor slips are virtually absent, and the grammatical control is consistent throughout the entire text, allowing for seamless and clear communication of complex numerical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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