Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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 5.5)

The bar chart compares the export earnings using the different categories of one country between 2015 and 2016.

Overall, it is clear from the graph that all five categories followed different trends. Petroleum products were the most significant category of earning in both year, while textiles had the lowest figure for most of the period.

In 2015, petroleum products were the most common source for earnings, and it is accounted almost 61$,increased slightly to 62$ in 2016. Engineered goods contributed 56$ in 2015, then rose slightly to 60$ in 2016.

The figure for gems and jewellery constitued 53$ in 2015, before dropping to 51$ ein 2016. Agriculture and products relatively remained stable for the two years. Textiles experienced the lowest figures in 2015 and then rose significantly to 42$ in 2016.

The table iluustrates

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting petroleum as the leading category and textiles as the lowest initially. However, several figures and trends are inaccurate: gems and jewellery were about $43 billion in 2015 and fell to $41 billion, not $53 billion and $51 billion; textiles rose from about $26 billion to $31 billion, not $42 billion. The overview also says textiles were lowest for most of the period, although they were lowest in 2015 and tied with agriculture in 2016. The table is introduced but not reported, so its percentage changes are omitted, and the final sentence is unfinished. The response is also 16 words below the required minimum. These gaps leave the task only minimally addressed; report the key data accurately and complete the comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing the figures. Time markers such as “In 2015” and “then” help readers follow the comparisons. However, the progression is incomplete: the final line, “The table iluustrates”, stops abruptly, and the table’s information is never connected to the chart discussion. Some links between categories are also unclear, as in “Agriculture and products relatively remained stable,” which does not clearly identify the category or its values. Grouping the main increases and decreases, then adding a complete paragraph on percentage changes, would make the organisation more purposeful. Overall, there is some organisation, but the unfinished ending and weak connections interrupt the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related terms, including “export earnings,” “categories,” “contributed,” “remained stable” and “dropping.” These choices make the general topic understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “most common source for earnings” is less suitable than “largest export category,” and “most significant category of earning” is unnatural. There are also spelling errors, including “constitued” and “iluustrates,” and the phrase “Agriculture and products” is unclear. Aim for precise, consistent terms such as “export value,” “rose” and “declined,” and check spelling carefully. The vocabulary is adequate for basic reporting, but these noticeable inaccuracies limit clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and more complex comparisons, for example, “The figure for gems and jewellery … before dropping…” and “while textiles had the lowest figure.” The main meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence construction, agreement and punctuation are evident. In “Petroleum products were … in both year,” the plural noun requires “years”; “and it is accounted almost 61$” has an incorrect verb form and structure; and “increased slightly” needs a clear subject. The comma is also joined directly to “increased” without a space, while the final fragment, “The table illustrates,” is incomplete. Use complete sentences with clear subjects and past-tense verbs, and proofread articles, agreement and punctuation.

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