Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The pie charts below show exports from various EU countries to India and China in 2000 and 2011.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

EU Exports of Goods to India and China in 2000 and 2011

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The pie charts compare the percentage distribution of commercial exports from various European Union member states to India and China across two different years, 2000 and 2011.

Overall, the data highlights a major shift in the dominance of EU trading partners. While the United Kingdom lost its leading market share in exports to India, Germany expanded its dominance dramatically over the eleven-year period, emerging as the primary exporter to both Asian nations by 2011.

Regarding exports to India, the United Kingdom held the largest share in 2000 at 29%. However, by 2011, its contribution dropped sharply by more than half to just 13%. Similarly, Belgium’s share, which stood as the second-highest at 25% in 2000, saw a moderate decline to 20%. In stark contrast, Germany witnessed significant growth, with its export share climbing from 15% to 25%, establishing itself as the leading EU partner to India. Most other countries remained stable, though France and Italy ticked up slightly to 9% each, while the collective share of unspecified "Other" nations nearly doubled to 9%.

For exports to China, Germany was already the dominant player in 2000, controlling a substantial 38% of the total export market. By 2011, this position strengthened even further, with its share surging to nearly half of the entire market at 48%. France followed as the second-largest exporter, though it recorded a slight contraction from 13% down to 11%. The remaining nations accounted for much lower proportions of the market; the United Kingdom and Italy both experienced minimal shifts, standing at 7% and 6% respectively by 2011, while smaller nations like Denmark and Sweden consistently hovered below the 5% threshold.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the pie charts, making relevant and accurate comparisons between the years 2000 and 2011. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the major shifts in market dominance between the UK and Germany. Key data points, such as the UK's drop from 29% to 13% for India and Germany's rise to 48% for China, are accurately cited and supported. The response demonstrates a strong command of the visual data with no significant omissions or misinterpretations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, and there is a clear progression throughout the response. The essay is well-divided into appropriate paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two detailed body paragraphs dedicated to exports to India and China respectively. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'However', 'In stark contrast', and 'Following' are used smoothly and appropriately without being overbearing. Referencing is clear and maintains the reader's focus on the comparative analysis effortlessly.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The candidate demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Vocabulary is used with precision, featuring appropriate academic collocation and phrasing such as 'percentage distribution', 'market share', 'dramatic expansion', and 'slight contraction'. Less common items like 'contraction' and 'threshold' are employed accurately. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word choice, reflecting a high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

A wide range of complex sentence structures is used effectively throughout the text, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'emerging as the primary exporter to both Asian nations by 2011' and 'which stood as the second-highest at 25% in 2000'). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, with excellent control over punctuation and grammar. Only occasional minor slips could occur, but none are present here, indicating a very strong grammatical foundation.

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.