Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar and table illustrates how the value of a country change in different sector from 2015 to 2016. However, the percentage of each category exports change in 2016 compared with 2015.

Overall, the highest earning in export by the petroleum, whereas the least by the textiles industry. In addition, textiles industry shows the highest growth in 2015 to 2016.

In 2015, the petroleum products earned around 60 billion, while agriculture products almost half 40 billion, followed by textiles earning around 35 billion which was the least amount. In contrast, in 2016 earning of petroleum products and engineered goods were almost similar 65 billons each. The earning of agricultural products and textiles stood at 42 billion and 40 billion, respectively.

Moving towards percentage change in values during 2015 and 2016, the textiles change the value the most was 15.24 % . The value of petroleum products rose by 3 % but the value of gems and jewellery dropped to 5.18% . The value of agriculture products was up by 0.81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: petroleum products are the top export, while textiles show the largest percentage increase. You also compare several categories and include figures, so the response is relevant to the task. However, some reported values and trends do not match the chart: agricultural exports were about $31 billion in both years, not $40 billion in 2015 and $42 billion in 2016; textiles were about $26 billion and $31 billion, not $35 billion and $40 billion. In 2016, petroleum and engineered goods were about $63 billion and $62 billion, rather than $65 billion each. The overview also misses the decline in gems and jewellery. Select the key comparisons more accurately and distinguish the chart values from the percentage-change figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, a comparison of export values, and a paragraph on percentage changes. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “In addition,” and “In contrast” help signal relationships, although some transitions feel mechanical or do not clearly connect the figures being compared. For example, “Moving towards percentage change” introduces the final section, but the paragraph could group increases together and then contrast them with the fall in gems and jewellery. Some references, such as “the value” in the final paragraph, are also vague. Use clearer category references and organise comparisons by trend to make progression more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “export,” “percentage change,” “earned,” “rose,” and “dropped,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, several word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise, such as “the value of a country change in different sector,” “highest earning in export,” and “the textiles change the value the most.” Repetition of “value,” “earning,” and “products” also limits the range. Aim for concise, conventional chart language, such as “export earnings,” “recorded the highest figure,” and “increased by.” Check word forms and spelling as well: “billons” should be “billion,” and “agriculture products” is better expressed as “agricultural products.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “while” and a relative clause in “textiles earning around 35 billion which was the least amount.” However, grammatical errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “The bar and table illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the value of a country change” lacks the correct verb form and article structure. The sentence “the textiles change the value the most was 15.24%” is also difficult to parse because its clause structure is faulty. Articles, plurals, and sentence punctuation need more consistent control. Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb before adding subordinate clauses.

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