Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-12

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 4.5)

There is a table which shows the country's exports and there is the comparison between 2015 and 2016 exports.

The product categories which are discussed are petroleum pruducts, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agricultural products and textiles.

The earnings of these producuts are also discussed. The chart shows that in 2015, the earning was 60 billion dollars but in 2016, it is increased to 62. The engineered goods is also increased from 58 to 62, Gems and jewellery is decreased from 52 to 50, agricultural products are increased from 41 to 42, and textiles are increased from 35 to 42 billion dollars. There is a great difference in textiles.

Earnings of petroleum products are increased 3%, earnings of engineered goods are increased 8.5%, earnings of gems and jewllery are increased 5.18%, earnings of agricultural products are increased 0.81% and earnings of textiles are increased 15.24%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the five export categories and reports several percentage changes, so it is recognisably about the task. However, the main chart figures are substantially misread: for example, gems and jewellery were about $43 billion in 2015 and $41 billion in 2016, not $52 billion and $50 billion; agricultural products were about $31 billion in both years, not $41 billion and $42 billion. The overview is also missing, and the claim that every category except gems increased conflicts with the chart’s near-stability in agriculture. The percentage for gems is described as an increase, although it fell. The response is five words below the required minimum. To improve, give a clear overview of the highest and lowest earners and the main trends, then check each figure and direction against the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the display, names the categories, gives chart figures, and then lists percentage changes. This makes the general subject understandable. However, the information is not grouped into a clear overview and supporting comparisons, and the progression is limited; the repeated sentence openings, such as “The earnings…” and “Earnings of…”, make the final section feel like a list. The opening also repeats that the table compares exports in 2015 and 2016 without establishing the main pattern. Use a separate overview paragraph, then organise details into meaningful groups—for example, categories that rose versus the category that declined—and use concise linking phrases to show those relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses relevant task vocabulary, including “exports,” “product categories,” “earnings,” and “increased” or “decreased,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several words are repeated, particularly “earnings” and “increased.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “pruducts,” “produ cuts,” and “jewllery,” which reduce accuracy. Some phrasing is imprecise: “There is a great difference in textiles” does not explain what changed or how it compares with other categories. Aim for accurate spelling and more precise reporting language, such as “export value,” “rose by,” “remained stable,” and “recorded the largest increase.” Avoid using “earnings” repeatedly when “value” or “export revenue” would be clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates its basic meaning through mostly simple sentence patterns, and it attempts some longer constructions, such as “The chart shows that in 2015…” However, the range is limited, and errors occur in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “in 2016, it is increased to 62” uses an incorrect passive form; “The engineered goods is also increased” has both agreement and verb-form problems; and “Earnings … are increased 3%” does not use a suitable grammatical pattern for reporting a change. The opening also joins two clauses with “and there is” awkwardly. Practise concise structures such as “Petroleum exports rose from about $61 billion to $63 billion” and “Textiles recorded the largest percentage increase.” Check tense and subject–verb agreement throughout.

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