Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16

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 exports of a country in billions, for five different products, for two subsequent years 2015 and 2016. Hence, the given table gives the percentage change in exports of each product for 2015 and 2016.

As observed from the bar chart, petroleum products and engineered goods account for the major exports. Meanwhile, the textiles showed the highest discrepancy in exports, with the agricultural products showing declining export values.

The petroleum products had highest export count of 60 billion and about 62 billion in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Followed by that, engineered goods contributed nearly same, around 58 billion in 2015, which rose to reach just above 60 million in 2016. Other products' export value lied between around 40 billion and about 25 billion, with textiles having significant gap in exports.

The table demonstrates that the highest export growth of around 15.24% is shown by the textiles. Whereas, the least increment of 0.81% can be seen for the agricultural products. However, besides the increment, the only export value, that has declined, is of the gems and jewellery, that dropped by 5.18%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main high-value categories and correctly note that textiles had the largest percentage increase, agricultural products the smallest, and gems and jewellery declined. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: agricultural exports did not decline; they were approximately unchanged at $31 billion, despite the table showing a small positive change. The chart figures are also imprecise in places, and “just above 60 million” gives the wrong unit for engineered goods, which are measured in billions. The comparison that other categories ranged from about $40 billion to $25 billion is too general and omits the useful contrast between gems falling and textiles rising. A more complete overview and accurate, clearly selected comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, chart details, and then information from the table. This makes the main purpose easy to follow. Some links between ideas are awkward or mechanical, however. “Followed by that” does not clearly connect the petroleum and engineered figures, while “Whereas” begins a fragment rather than a complete contrasting sentence. The overview also groups the categories without clearly explaining the key pattern, and the final paragraph shifts between growth and decline without a smooth comparison. Use clearer transitions such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile,” and organise the body around increases, stability, and the one decline to create more consistent progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of task-related vocabulary, including “exports,” “percentage change,” “account for,” “declined,” and “increment.” These choices generally communicate the intended comparisons. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing chart data: “highest discrepancy in exports” does not mean the largest increase, and “export count” is not appropriate for monetary values. “The textiles showed” and “export value lied between” are also awkward collocations or word forms. In addition, “60 million” conflicts with the chart’s unit of billions. Aim for precise reporting language such as “export earnings,” “rose by,” and “remained stable”; this will make the vocabulary more natural and accurate without requiring unnecessarily complex terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the opening sentence with “for two subsequent years” and the contrast introduced by “However.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and sentence constructions reduce accuracy. For example, “petroleum products had highest export count” is missing an article, and “Followed by that, engineered goods contributed nearly same” is an awkward, incomplete construction. The sentence beginning “Whereas the least increment…” is also a fragment, and the final clause “that dropped by 5.18%” is not smoothly attached to its noun. Practise complete comparative sentences and check articles, clause connections, and punctuation when combining related figures.

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