Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-25
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 compares a country’s export earnings from five categories of products in 2015 and 2016, while the accompanying figures show the percentage change in export values over the same period.
Overall, petroleum products and engineered goods generated the highest export revenues in both years, whereas textiles initially earned the least. Export earnings increased in all categories except gems and jewellery, with textiles experiencing by far the most substantial growth.
In 2015, petroleum products were the largest source of export revenue, at approximately $61 billion, followed by engineered goods at around $58 billion. By 2016, earnings from these two categories had risen to roughly $63 billion and $62 billion, representing increases of 3% and 8.5%, respectively.
Exports of gems and jewellery fell from about $43 billion to $41 billion, a decline of 5.18%, making it the only category to experience negative growth. Agricultural products remained relatively stable, increasing marginally from approximately $31 billion to just over $31 billion, equivalent to a rise of only 0.81%.
By contrast, textiles recorded the most pronounced growth, climbing from around $25 billion in 2015 to $30 billion in 2016, or 15.24%. Despite this substantial increase, textiles remained below the other major export categories in absolute value.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student has fully addressed all parts of the task by accurately summarising the main features of the chart and table. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the general trends such as petroleum products and engineered goods generating the highest revenues and gems and jewellery being the only category with negative growth. Key data points are correctly selected and compared, such as petroleum products starting at approximately $61 billion and rising to $63 billion (3%), alongside detailed figures for other categories. The response is well-supported with relevant data from the visual inputs and successfully makes comparisons where appropriate, meeting all the requirements of a Band 8 response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs that deal with specific categories. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, moving from the highest-earning categories to decreases and stability, and finally to the category with the most pronounced growth. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, for example, 'Overall', 'By 2016', 'By contrast', and referencing words like 'these two categories'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, resulting in a cohesive and easy-to-follow text.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary items and phrases such as 'export earnings', 'generated the highest revenues', 'experiencing by far the most substantial growth', and 'negative growth' are used naturally and accurately. Collocations are generally strong, and word choices are precise. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, such as saying textiles climbed to '$30 billion' when the chart indicates around $31 billion, though this relates slightly to data interpretation rather than lexical failure. Overall, the vocabulary is varied and used with good control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The writer exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with a high degree of accuracy. Complex sentences are used frequently and effectively, such as 'while the accompanying figures show the percentage change' and 'Exports of gems and jewellery fell from about $43 billion to $41 billion, a decline of 5.18%, making it the only category to experience negative growth.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over tense consistency (past simple for 2015/2016 data) is well maintained. Minor slips, such as the slight numerical discrepancy regarding the 2016 textile value, do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 8.
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