Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-24

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 6.0)

The bar graph compares various goods sold during 2015 and 2016, while the table shows each category values that were exported with in a year.

Overall, petroleum products and engineered goods were sold in the highest amount over the period. The only product that had exported more in the previous year was gems and jewellery, but their value decreased in subsequent year. Textiles were the least product that sold, but their value significantly increased among other categories.

In 2016, petroleum products were exported in significant amount which was just over $60 billions and engineered goods were exactly $60 billions. However, last year oil-based products were sold exactly $60 billions, while engineered products were slightly under $60 billions. Farming products and textile shared the same amount when exported, which is $30 billions in 2016. The least goods that sold among all categories were textiles that acquired approximately $25 billions in 2015.

In contrast, only one product that was exported more in previous year comparative to following year which was gems and jewellery, acquired around $55 billions. Their value declined about 5.18% in a year. However, value for textile products surge to around 15.24%. Engineered goods, petroleum and agricultural products' values rose to 8.5%, 3% and 0.81% respectively in the descending order.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the export earnings and percentage changes for the specified categories. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, identifying petroleum products and engineered goods as the highest earners. However, there are some inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the visual data. For instance, the student states that textiles were the least product that sold, whereas the chart shows agricultural products and textiles had similar values in 2016, and gems and jewellery or agricultural products were lower in certain years. Additionally, the figures cited for 2015 (e.g. gems and jewellery around $55 billions) do not accurately reflect the source chart where gems and jewellery were approximately 43 billion. Despite these data reading errors, the main trends and percentage changes are reported reasonably well. Overall, this meets the criteria for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, body paragraph one focusing on 2016 and 2015 absolute values, and body paragraph two focusing on percentage changes. There is a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In 2016', 'However', and 'In contrast', which help structure the comparison. However, some referencing is confusing or slightly mechanical, such as 'The only product that had exported more in the previous year was gems and jewellery, but their value decreased in subsequent year.' Paragraphing is used appropriately, but some sentences feel disconnected due to minor cohesion faults. This performance fits the Band 6.0 descriptors well.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'subsequent year', 'significantly increased', 'approximately', and 'descending order'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the least product that sold' instead of 'the least sold product' or 'the lowest-selling product', and 'Farming products and textile shared the same amount when exported' instead of 'earned the same amount'. There are also minor awkward phrasings like 'value for textile products surge'. These lexical errors do not impede communication, placing the response securely at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward constructions throughout the text, such as 'each category values that were exported with in a year', 'The only product that had exported more' (active instead of passive), and 'only one product that was exported more in previous year comparative to following year'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but minor grammatical inaccuracies occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching Band 7.0. The errors rarely impede overall comprehension, reflecting a solid Band 6.0 level of control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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