Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19
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 5.0)
The bar chart illustrates the comparison of export earnings of five products: Petroleum, Engeering, Gems and jewellery, Agriculture and textiles of a certain country between 2015 and 2016. The extra information on the proportional changes of each category was given as well.
Overall, Petroleum products were the most exported, followed by engineering goods and both agricultural and textile goods had low exports. Most of the products had a postive percentage change with the exception of gems and jewellery which decreased.
In 2015, Petroleum exported goods worth 6 billion dollars compared to textiles which had below 40 billion dollars. There was a slight increase in the exports of petroleum to
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5
The response identifies the chart’s subject and gives a relevant overview: petroleum is described as the leading category, and gems and jewellery as the only category to decline. However, the report is incomplete and does not adequately summarise the main data. The statement that agricultural and textile goods had “low exports” is misleading, since textiles rose to about $31 billion and agriculture was also around $31 billion. The figure “6 billion dollars” for petroleum in 2015 is a substantial misreading of approximately $61 billion. The response ends mid-sentence and omits most comparisons and figures. It also falls 41 words short of the required minimum. To improve, complete the report and accurately compare the categories and their changes.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is a basic, recognisable structure: an introduction is followed by an overview and then a detail paragraph. The overview also uses a clear contrast, noting that most categories rose while gems and jewellery fell. However, the response stops abruptly during “There was a slight increase in the exports of petroleum to,” so the progression is not completed and the reader is left without a concluding set of comparisons. The detail paragraph begins with petroleum and textiles but does not develop a consistent comparison across all five categories. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for the overview and key figures, and connect comparisons explicitly—for example, contrast the highest earnings with the lower categories and then describe the changes.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “export earnings,” “proportional changes,” “percentage change,” and “decreased,” which makes the topic generally clear. However, word choice and spelling are uneven: “Engeering” is misspelled, “Petroleum” is used where “petroleum products” would match the chart, and “postive” is incorrect. “Both agricultural and textile goods had low exports” is also imprecise, particularly because textiles increased to about $31 billion. The phrase “Petroleum exported goods worth” is awkward and does not clearly express the value of the category’s exports. Aim for accurate category labels and natural collocations such as “export earnings amounted to” or “the value of exports rose.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response includes some controlled sentence forms, including the overview sentence contrasting the general increases with the decline in gems and jewellery. Most sentences are understandable, but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “Petroleum exported goods worth 6 billion dollars,” the subject and verb pattern is awkward; a clearer construction would be “Exports of petroleum products were worth…” The phrase “the comparison of export earnings … between 2015 and 2016” is also less natural than “a comparison … in 2015 and 2016.” The final sentence is unfinished, which prevents the attempted structure from being assessed as a complete sentence. Use complete clauses throughout and check that subjects, verbs, and comparison structures are expressed clearly.
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