Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-02
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 4.5)
The given bar chart elucidates information about export earning ([redacted phone]) . The chart compares different categories and presents the data in numer or percentages .
Overall, it can that there are noticeable differences among the categories shown in the chart . Furthermore , some categories show some fluctuations increment as well as decrement whereas for some cases they remain stable .
According to the chart , the first main activity petroleum products 62
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
The response identifies the chart as concerning export earnings and attempts an overview by noting differences and increases, decreases, or stability. However, it does not adequately summarise the data: the only specific figure is “petroleum products 62,” and no comparison across the five categories is completed. The overview is also too general to identify the main features, such as petroleum products and engineered goods being the highest earners, or textiles showing the largest percentage rise. The response is substantially under the required 150 words, which leaves the task only minimally addressed. To improve, report the key highs and lows, describe the overall changes accurately, and support these points with selected figures from both years and the percentage table.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence is followed by an overview, and “Overall” and “According to the chart” signal the purpose of the next sections. This gives the reader some indication of the intended structure. However, the progression stops abruptly after the unfinished point about petroleum products, so the categories and comparisons are not developed in a logical sequence. The overview also repeats the broad idea of differences without specifying what those differences are. Complete the body by grouping the categories—for example, the highest earners first, then the lower figures—and use clear links such as “by contrast” or “while” to connect comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The response uses some task-related vocabulary, including “bar chart,” “categories,” “export earning,” and “fluctuations,” and the general topic is understandable. There are also attempts to vary wording rather than relying entirely on basic terms. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “export earning” should be plural, “data in numer or percentages” is unclear, and “fluctuations increment” is not a natural collocation. “First main activity” is also unsuitable for describing a product category. Use precise chart language such as “export earnings,” “figures,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained stable.” More accurate vocabulary would help communicate the comparisons clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response includes simple statements and an attempt at a more complex sentence, particularly “some categories show … whereas for some cases they remain stable.” This shows an effort to connect contrasting ideas. However, grammatical control is uneven, and the limited amount of writing makes it difficult to demonstrate a wider range. The phrase “Overall, it can that” is missing a verb, while “the first main activity petroleum products 62” is not a complete sentence and lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the category and its figure. Punctuation spacing is also inconsistent. Practise complete sentences with a subject and verb, for example, “Petroleum products earned about $62 billion in 2016,” and check sentence boundaries and punctuation.
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.