Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20
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 chart shows one country's exports value in different categories between 2015 to 2016.
Overall, Petroleum and engineered goods played dominant role both years of earnings in all categories while gems and jewelry were moderate. In contrast agricultural and textiles products were making less earning.
In 2015, petroleum products had the highest percentage approximately 70% and engineered goods were also close to 70% which was the 2nd highest. Gems and jewelry had made more than 50% earning in 2015 whereas agricultural and textiles good made earning of more than 40% and near 40% both were the lowest percentage in 2015.
Petroleum and engineered goods both were still peak of earnings in 2016 also more than 70%. In jewelry items there was slight drop and reached to near 50%. Agricultural products had a little increase in earning more than 40%. There was a significant increase in textile products earning and it crossed the 40% which had equaled the agricultural products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The student attempts to summarise the main features of the chart and table, identifying categories such as petroleum products and engineered goods as having high earnings. However, the response contains significant data misinterpretations. For instance, the student states that petroleum products had a percentage of 'approximately 70%' and gems and jewelry made 'more than 50% earning in 2015', confusing the absolute values in billions of dollars with percentages. The actual values in billions were 61 for petroleum and 43 for gems and jewelry. Furthermore, the percentage change data from the table is either misread or conflated with the main chart data, such as claiming 'textiles... crossed the 40%'. While an overview and comparisons are present, the pervasive misreading of the data prevents the response from achieving a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is structured into an introduction and subsequent body paragraphs that attempt to discuss the data logically by year. However, progression is hindered by confusing data references and awkward transitions. Paragraphing is attempted, with an introductory overview followed by a breakdown of 2015 and 2016 data. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes misused, such as 'In contrast agricultural and textiles products were making less earning' without proper punctuation, and repetitive structural openings like 'In 2015...' and 'Petroleum and engineered goods both were still peak...'. Referencing between sentences is occasionally unclear, leading to a choppy and disjointed reading experience overall.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, frequently reusing terms like 'earning', 'percentage', and 'products'. There are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'played dominant role both years of earnings', 'were still peak of earnings', and 'gems and jewelry had made more than 50% earning'. The student attempts less common vocabulary such as 'significant increase' and 'moderate', but overall lexical control is limited. Spelling is generally accurate, but word formation and phrasal patterns often sound unnatural or unidiomatic, directly impacting the precision required for Task 1 reports.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response displays a limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences predominate, and attempts at complex structures often result in grammatical errors or awkward phrasing, such as 'In contrast agricultural and textiles products were making less earning' and 'There was a significant increase in textile products earning and it crossed the 40% which had equaled the agricultural products.' Punctuation errors are frequent, particularly missing commas after introductory prepositional phrases (e.g., 'In 2015 petroleum products...'). Grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('played dominant role') and incorrect prepositions ('reach to near 50%'), occur frequently and occasionally cause strain for the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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