Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13

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 4.0)

The give illustration depicts value of export earnings in different categories in the years of 2015 and 2016.

overall, it can be evident from the bar graph that petroleum products have domination in both the given years and texiles

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the general subject—export earnings across categories in 2015 and 2016—and begins an overview by noting petroleum products’ leading position. However, it stops mid-sentence after “and texiles,” so the comparison is incomplete, and it gives no figures or account of the other categories’ changes. The key features are therefore not adequately summarised, including the rise in engineered goods and textiles and the fall in gems and jewellery. The response also contains only 39 words, well below the required 150, leaving the task substantially unfinished. To improve, complete the overview and add selected comparisons supported by accurate values from the chart and table.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introductory sentence is followed by an overview beginning with “overall.” This gives the reader a simple starting point, but the response ends before the overview is completed, so there is no clear progression into supporting details or a concluding comparison. The final phrase, “and texiles,” is unfinished and leaves the relationship between the categories unclear. Develop a complete paragraph structure: introduce the visuals, summarise the main trends, then group and compare the figures. Use linking expressions to show contrasts and changes, such as “whereas” for the decline in gems and jewellery and “by contrast” for the rise in textiles.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “value,” “export earnings,” “categories,” and “bar graph,” which show awareness of the topic. However, the vocabulary range is very limited because the response is extremely short, and some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “illustration” is not the most precise label for the visuals, while “have domination” is an unnatural collocation. “Texiles” is also misspelled, and the final phrase is incomplete. Use standard chart language such as “bar chart,” “export values,” “recorded the highest earnings,” and “increased/decreased.” Accurate category names and a wider range of comparison vocabulary would make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts two sentence forms, including an introductory statement and an overview clause beginning “overall, it can be evident.” However, grammatical control is uneven: “The give illustration depicts value” has errors in verb form and article use, and “in the years of 2015 and 2016” is an awkward grammatical construction. The second sentence is incomplete, ending with “and texiles,” so it does not express a complete comparison. Capitalisation after the full stop is also inconsistent in “overall.” Aim for complete, controlled sentences, for example: “The bar chart compares export earnings in five categories in 2015 and 2016.” Then write a full overview sentence and check articles, verb forms, and sentence completion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.