Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07

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 table illustrates the proportion change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015. In contrast, below the bar chart demonstrates the percentage change in values in these two years.

Overall, petrolium products and engin goods recorded the highest earnings in these two years, while textiles was lowest earning category throughout the period. In terms of values, almost all categories were increased, and single gems and jewllery category was decreased.

Looking first at tha bar chart, petrolium products recorded the highest export earnings, in 2015 at 60 billion, and in 2016 at around 62 billion, compared with engine goods that was also received largest earnings with 60 billion in two years. Gems and jewllery was third highest category of export earnings with approximately 52 billion earnings in 2015 and 2016. Turning to the remaining categories, agricultural products were almost remained same earnings with 40 billion, moreover, textile was smallest earning category, with around 37 billion in 2015 and 41 billion in 2016.

In terms of percentage change in values, percentage of textile increased significantly, at 15.24% in 2015 and 2016, while percentage change in values of petroleum products and engineered goods also rose 3%. Moreover, agriculture products values also increase 0.81%, but percentage value of gems and jewellery drop 5.18% in these two years of export earnings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern that petroleum products and engineered goods are the leading export categories and that gems and jewellery declined, which gives the response a relevant overview. However, the chart figures are repeatedly misread: for example, gems and jewellery were about $43 billion in 2015 and $41 billion in 2016, not approximately $52 billion in both years; agricultural products were about $31 billion, not $40 billion. The claim that textiles were the lowest-earning category is also inaccurate for 2016, when they were level with agricultural products. The table is addressed, but the description confuses percentage changes with values in particular, saying textiles rose “at 15.24% in 2015 and 2016.” Select the main comparisons more accurately and report the table’s changes as changes between years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about the chart, and a final paragraph about percentage changes. This helps the reader distinguish the two visual elements. However, progression within the body is weakened by unclear or inaccurate links between ideas. “In contrast” does not clearly connect the table and chart, and “compared with engine goods that was also received largest earnings” makes the comparison difficult to follow. The transition “moreover” is also used where the relationship is simply a further category, while the final paragraph repeats the same change information without a clear comparison. Use straightforward sequencing and comparison phrases, and group categories by trend or rank to make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “export earnings,” “category,” “percentage change,” and “increased significantly,” so the topic is generally clear. There is some attempt to vary wording, including “recorded,” “rose,” and “drop.” However, several inaccurate or awkward choices reduce precision: “proportion change” is not the same as percentage change, “engine goods” is an unclear label, and “smallest earning category” is an unnatural collocation. Spelling errors such as “petrolium,” “jewllery,” and “tha” are noticeable. Aim to use the chart’s category names consistently and choose standard collocations for describing figures and trends. More accurate vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer without requiring more complex wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “compared with.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some statements difficult to interpret. For example, “agricultural products were almost remained same earnings” has an incorrect verb construction, while “engine goods that was also received largest earnings” has problems with clause structure and agreement. “Textiles was lowest earning category” also needs correct agreement and article use. Tense and sentence construction are inconsistent in phrases such as “values also increase.” Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles, and past-tense forms before adding extra clauses.

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