Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-26

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 barchart compares the number of five different goods which one nation exports during two years. And table gives information about percentage variation in every category of goods sent to other countries in 2016 compared with 2015.

Overall, it can be seen at a glance that petroleum products accounts the highest percentage in barchart during both years. While textiles are presented as less selling products. Table shows that petroleum products pecentage changes are very minimum as compared to textiles which shows huge change in percentage.

In 2015, 60 billion$ are earned from petroleum products. Engineering goods generate 65 billion$ in 2015. Agricultural products and textiles have very negligible difference both account aproximately 40 billion$ earning in 2015.Gems and jewellery produce around 52billion$ in 2015.

On the other hand, In 2016 petroleum products and engineering goods produce 65billion$ which are higher as compared to 2015. Gems and gewelry generate 50billion$ which is slightly lower than 2015. Agriculture earning remain same in 2016 while textile outcome increase to 40billion$ in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two years and the five export categories, and your overview correctly notes that petroleum was among the leading categories while textiles showed the largest percentage change. However, several key comparisons are inaccurate: petroleum was not the highest in both years, as engineered goods were close behind and the 2015 figures are approximately $61 billion and $57 billion respectively. The reported figures for gems and agricultural products are also substantially overstated; they were about $43 billion and $31 billion in 2015, not $52 billion and $40 billion. The overview also calls textiles the least-selling category, which is true in 2015 but not in 2016, when it matched agriculture. More accurate selection and reporting of the main data would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for 2015 and 2016. This gives the reader a basic progression through the information, and phrases such as “On the other hand” signal a shift between years. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. Beginning a sentence with “And table” is awkward, while “While textiles…” is left as a fragment. The overview’s comparison between the categories is not fully clear, and the body paragraphs list figures without consistently connecting them through direct comparisons. Grouping the leading categories together and then comparing the lower figures would create smoother progression and clearer cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “percentage variation,” “accounts,” “generate,” and “slightly lower,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing export data: “number of goods” suggests quantities rather than monetary values, “less selling products” is not an appropriate description, and “textile outcome” is unclear. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “pecentage” and “gewelry,” alongside inconsistent forms such as “Agriculture” and “agricultural products.” Use precise terms for value and change, and check spelling and collocations. This would make your vocabulary more reliable and reduce moments when the reader has to infer your meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and the comparison “which are higher as compared to 2015.” However, some errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation remain. For example, “petroleum products accounts” has a plural subject with a singular verb, and “And table gives information” lacks an article and begins with an unsuitable conjunction. “While textiles are presented…” is a dependent clause without a main clause, and “Agriculture earning remain same” has problems with both agreement and sentence construction. The frequent missing spaces around figures and inconsistent capitalisation also affect presentation. Aim for complete, controlled sentences and check subject–verb agreement.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.