Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28

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 bar graph illustrates the information of exports in different categories between 2015 and 2016 and the following table provides the exact figures of percentage change.

Overall, petroleum and engineered goods were most export earning products during these years whereas agricultured and textile products were the lowest respectively.

In 2015, petroleum products were at 60 billion dollars and engineered products were about 55 billion dollars. Whereas next year petroleum products experienced a little hike of just 3% but enginnered products rose to 60 billion dollar with the percentage of 8.5%.

Third category the gems and jewellery were at more than 40 billion but in 2016, it showed downward trend with value of 5.18%.

Export earnings through agricultured products were at more than 30 billion whereas textiles accounted for about 25 billion but within a year textiles showed upward trend with the proportion of 15.24% and matched the graph with the textiles. However agricultured products remained at the same value in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main categories and report several relevant figures and changes, including the 3% rise in petroleum, the 8.5% rise in engineered goods, and the 15.24% increase in textiles. The overview also correctly notes that petroleum and engineered goods were the leading earners. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: agricultural products were not among the lowest, as they earned about $31 billion, more than textiles and gems. The description of gems gives the percentage fall but omits the approximate values, while the textile sentence does not clearly state its 2016 value. Also, agricultural earnings were broadly stable, rather than exactly unchanged according to the table’s 0.81% increase. Select and compare the key figures more clearly to develop the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the higher- and lower-earning categories. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the body is uneven, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, “Whereas next year” begins a fragment rather than connecting smoothly to the previous sentence, and “matched the graph with the textiles” does not explain the comparison. The final paragraph combines agricultural and textile data, but the relationship between their values and changes is not clearly signposted. Use complete, connected sentences and organise the details into clear comparisons—for instance, the two leading categories together, followed by the remaining three.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary such as “exports,” “percentage change,” “downward trend,” and “upward trend,” and the reader can generally identify the categories being discussed. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear. “Information of exports” is less natural than “export earnings,” while “a little hike” is informal for an academic report. “Agricultured products” is an incorrect form, and “matched the graph with the textiles” does not convey a clear meaning. There are also spelling errors in “enginnered” and “jewellery” is not consistently handled. Aim for precise reporting language such as “rose to,” “declined by,” and “remained broadly stable,” and check category names carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, control is inconsistent, particularly when joining clauses. “Whereas next year petroleum products experienced…” is not a complete, well-connected sentence, and “Third category the gems and jewellery…” lacks an article and a clear sentence structure. There are also errors in number and article use, as in “60 billion dollar,” and the phrase “with the value of 5.18%” confuses a percentage change with an earnings value. Punctuation and sentence boundaries need attention, especially where a new comparison begins. Build accuracy by using straightforward complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses only when their grammatical relationship is clear.

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.