Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The bar chart below shows the top ten countries for the production and consumption of electricity in 2014.

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The bar chart compares the production and consumption rates of electricity among ten countries in 2014.

Overall, China recorded the highest production and consumption rates with a relatively high margin while closely followed by United States.

From the third country which is Russia, the rates dropped very significantly when compared to United States and China.

Russia is also the country with almost equal production and consumption rates.

Korea Rep has the lowest production and consumption rates. with production at 485.1 and consumption at 445.9.

Canada, Brazil, France, Germany and Korea Rep. make up the half of the chart who produced and consumed relatively low amount of electricity in 2014.

For most countries, the rate of production of electricity surpassed the rate of consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the chart’s main pattern: China and the United States lead by a large margin, output and use are close in Russia, and production exceeds consumption in most countries. These are relevant features, and the opening gives a clear description of the chart. However, the response is under the required 150 words, so the comparisons and supporting detail are limited. The claim that Korea has the lowest consumption is inaccurate: Germany’s production is lower than its consumption, and Korea’s consumption is 449.5, not 445.9. The grouping of Canada, Brazil, France, Germany and Korea as the “half” with low figures is also imprecise, since India is among the lower-output countries and Germany’s consumption is relatively high. Add accurate figures and develop the overview with clearer comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, an overview of the leading countries, and several further observations. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “From the third country,” and “For most countries” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, the ideas are presented as a series of short, separate statements rather than being grouped into a clear progression. The sentence about the five lower-producing countries is difficult to connect to the preceding points, and “From the third country” does not clearly explain the comparison. There is also no paragraph break to distinguish the overview from supporting details. Organise the response into two or three paragraphs and group comparisons logically, for example, the two leaders, the middle-ranked countries, and the exceptions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “production,” “consumption,” “rates,” “surpassed,” and “margin,” and the meaning is generally clear. Some choices are less natural or precise for describing chart data: “relatively high margin” is unclear, “make up the half of the chart” is awkward, and “low amount” does not fit naturally with the plural idea of electricity figures. “Rates” is also repeated where “figures” or “levels” would be more suitable. The country name “Korea Rep” should be presented consistently as “South Korea” or “the Republic of Korea.” Aim for precise collocations and avoid using a phrase such as “half of the chart” when you mean the lower-ranked countries.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use mostly clear simple sentences and attempt some more complex structures, such as “when compared to United States” and “For most countries, the rate of production … surpassed the rate of consumption.” The main relationships between ideas remain understandable. Some grammatical and punctuation errors are present, however. In “closely followed by United States,” the country name needs an article; “Korea Rep has … rates. with production…” incorrectly separates the sentence and begins the continuation with a lowercase word; and “low amount” does not agree naturally with the plural list of countries and their figures. The sentence beginning “From the third country” is also structurally awkward. Use complete sentences, check articles and agreement, and vary sentence patterns while keeping comparisons clear.

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