Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22

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 following bar chart illustrates the comparison of export values in 2015 and 2016.

Overall, this chart shows variation in export of a country. It shows increase in petrolium products, Engineered goods, Agricultural products and Textile. Whereas a decline in Gems and jewellery was recorded.

The country was exporting Petroleum products worth almost 70 billion dollars in 2015 which was increased by 3% in 2016. It was overall the major exporting product of the country in both years. Futhermore, the export of Engineered Goods were also increased by 8.5% and a minor increase of 0.81% was noticed in Agricultural products.

Similarly, Textiles export a great spike as comparedto other by 15.24% with just a year.

On the other hand Gems and jewellery were the only kind of product which shows decline in export. Which was less then 40 billion dollars in 2015 and later on in 2016 it was more then 40 billion $.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern correctly: most categories rose, while gems and jewellery fell, and you note textiles’ comparatively large percentage increase. However, the report only partially selects and explains the main features. Several figures are inaccurate or unclear: petroleum exports were about $61 billion in 2015, not “almost 70,” and gems and jewellery fell from about $43 billion to $41 billion, so both values were above $40 billion rather than moving from below to above that level. The overview also omits useful comparisons, such as engineered goods being the second-largest category and textiles rising to about $31 billion. Include accurate values and compare the categories more fully to develop the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by details about increases and then a contrast with gems and jewellery. This makes the general direction of the report easy to follow. Paragraphing is appropriate, and transitions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore,” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. “Similarly” does not clearly explain how the textiles point relates to the preceding figures, and the final sentence beginning “Which was…” is an incomplete continuation rather than a clear, connected statement. Grouping the figures into a more systematic comparison—for example, highest values, then smaller categories—would make progression and referencing more consistent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “export values,” “decline,” “major,” and “increase,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is also some attempt to vary expressions, such as “a minor increase” and “a great spike.” However, word choice and collocation are often imprecise or repetitive: “variation in export” is vague, “Textiles export a great spike” is unnatural, and “major exporting product” is less suitable than a phrase describing export value. Spelling errors such as “petrolium” and “Futhermore,” along with the joined form “comparedto,” are noticeable. Use precise chart language consistently, such as “export earnings,” “rose,” “recorded,” and “category,” and check spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, control is uneven, with frequent errors in sentence construction, agreement, and verb forms. For example, “Engineered Goods were also increased” uses an incorrect passive form, while “Textiles export a great spike” has an unsuitable verb construction. The sentence “Which was less then 40 billion dollars…” is a fragment, and “which shows decline” does not maintain appropriate tense or article use. There are also missing articles in phrases such as “shows variation in export.” Practise forming complete sentences with accurate past-tense verbs, for example, “Textile exports rose sharply,” and check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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