Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-23
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 export earnings of one country from various products during 2015 and 2016 timeline.
Overall, the highest portion of earning came from petroleum products in 2015 and also in 2016. The lowest amount of earnings came from textiles in 2015, whereas agricultural products and textiles showed the lowest amount in 2016.
In 2015, the amount of earning was around 70 billions in petroleum products section. This amount slightly decreased and became less than 60 billions in Engineered goods section in 2015. Whereas, in 2016 this amount was around 70 biliions for both petroleum products and Engineered goods.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response identifies the chart topic and gives a relevant overview: petroleum products are described as the leading category, while textiles are among the lowest. However, it reports very little of the data and contains important inaccuracies. Petroleum earnings were about $61 billion in 2015, not around $70 billion, and engineered goods were about $57 billion, not less than $60 billion by a meaningful margin as presented. In 2016, petroleum was about $63 billion and engineered goods about $62 billion, rather than both being around $70 billion. The response also omits the other categories and the percentage changes. At 101 words, it does not meet the 150-word minimum. Include a fuller, accurate comparison of the categories and key changes.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph with figures. This helps the reader follow the general topic. However, the progression is limited because the final paragraph discusses only petroleum and engineered goods, without moving through the remaining categories or grouping information in a clear comparison. The connector “Whereas” is used to introduce a sentence fragment, and “This amount” is repeated without a precise reference. To improve organisation, present the overview first, then compare the higher-earning categories and the lower ones, using clear links such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile.” A complete account would also give the response a more coherent progression.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary is sufficient to identify the subject and make basic comparisons, with phrases such as “export earnings,” “highest,” “lowest,” and “slightly decreased.” However, wording is repetitive and sometimes imprecise: “amount of earning” and “amount of earnings” recur, while “portion of earning” is not a natural way to describe export values. There are also spelling errors, including “biliions,” and “section” is vague for a product category. Use more precise chart language, such as “export value,” “category,” “rose,” and “remained stable.” Greater variety in describing increases, decreases, and comparisons would make the report clearer and more appropriate to an academic summary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response uses some straightforward sentence forms and attempts a complex contrast, for example, “The lowest amount of earnings came from textiles in 2015, whereas…” Meaning is generally understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. “During 2015 and 2016 timeline” lacks an article and has an awkward time construction; “70 billions” also has an incorrect plural form after a number. The sentence beginning “Whereas, in 2016…” is incomplete because “whereas” introduces a dependent clause without a main clause, and the comma after it is unnecessary. Practise combining comparisons into complete sentences and checking articles, number forms, and clause structure. More accurate sentence construction would support the ideas without changing their meaning.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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