Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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)

According to the bar chart shown, the main export products are: petroleum products, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agricultural products and textiles. The bar chart only shows two years of the value of one country's exports in these categories of products.

In 2015, the most valued item was petroleum products, then engineered goods were in close second. Then gems, then agricultural producs and textiles. These were in a decreasing order of values.

In 2016 the order remained the same but in some cases the values dropped in comparison to it's value in 2015. The biggest valued product was petroluem, once again. Then it was engineered goods, then gems, then agricultural producs and lastly textiles.

From the chart, we can see that in comparison, textiles were more exported in 2016 than 2015. Petroleum and engine goods were both exported less in 2015 than 2016. The only product to be less exported in 2016 than 2015 was gems and jewellery.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the five export categories and correctly note that petroleum products were the highest-valued category in both years and that gems and jewellery declined. However, the response only minimally reports the chart’s main features: it gives no export values and does not use the percentage-change table, which is an important part of the task. The claim that the order remained the same is inaccurate because textiles rose to the same approximate value as agricultural products in 2016, rather than remaining clearly last. You also say “some cases” dropped, although only gems fell. To improve, give an overview of the main increases and the one decrease, then support it with selected figures and percentage changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, understandable structure: it introduces the categories, describes 2015 and 2016 in separate paragraphs, and ends with a comparison. This helps the reader follow the broad sequence. However, progression is limited because the two year-by-year paragraphs repeat the ranking rather than developing the most significant comparisons, and the final paragraph partly repeats earlier information. Linking phrases such as “Then” are used repeatedly, while “From the chart, we can see that in comparison” is wordy and does not clearly signal a precise comparison. Organise the report around an overview followed by grouped changes, and use clearer references such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” to connect the data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic vocabulary, including “export products,” “value,” “decreasing order,” and “in comparison,” so the general subject is clear. However, the range is limited and some expressions are imprecise for describing a chart. “Most valued item” and “biggest valued product” are less natural than “highest-value category,” while “more exported” does not accurately express a rise in export earnings. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “petroluem” and “agricultural producs,” and “engine goods” is an inconsistent shortening of “engineered goods.” Use precise terms such as “export earnings,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable,” and check spelling and category names carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your sentences are generally understandable, and you use some longer structures, for example, “The only product to be less exported in 2016 than 2015 was gems and jewellery.” Most ideas can be followed without difficulty. However, the range is narrow, with several short, repetitive sentence patterns and fragments such as “Then gems, then agricultural producs and textiles.” There are also errors in sentence construction and agreement: “the order remained the same but in some cases the values dropped” is not well supported by the data, and “The only product … was gems and jewellery” has a singular subject followed by a plural complement. The phrase “it's value” also uses an incorrect possessive form. Practise complete comparative sentences and vary structures while checking agreement and punctuation.

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