Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-09

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 graph illustrates the information about the top ten countries who are standing tall in the consumption and the production of electricity in the year 2014.

Overall the name of the ten ranked countries are China, United States, Russia, Japan, India, Canada, France, Brazil, Germany and the Korea Republic.

China and the United States are naming high in the Electricity supply which is 5398 billion kWh for the China and 4099 billion kWh for the United States whereas their consumption is also highest than other countries which is 5322 billion kWh for the China and 3866 billion kWh for the United States. Although Russia is third on the list but its production is far more below than the China and the United States which is 1057 billion kWh production and the 1038 billion kWh usage of the electricity. Moreover we see all other countries electricity production is less than 1000 billion kWh and also usage is less than 900 billion kWh. The countries are Japan, India, Canada, France, Brazil, Germany and the Korea Republic.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, identifying the top two countries and noting the significant gap between them and the rest of the list. However, the report is somewhat superficial. While it mentions the top two and Russia, it fails to provide a meaningful comparison of the remaining seven countries, merely listing them at the end. To achieve a higher band, you should group the data more effectively (e.g., comparing the top tier with the lower tier) rather than simply listing names. The overview is also slightly weak, as it focuses on listing the countries rather than highlighting the most significant trends in the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the phrase 'which is' is used repeatedly to introduce data points, which makes the flow feel a bit stilted. Additionally, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. While the information is generally easy to follow, the lack of varied linking words and the somewhat abrupt transition to the list of remaining countries limits the score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'standing tall' and 'naming high' are unnatural in an academic context and do not accurately describe statistical data. There is also a reliance on basic verbs like 'is' and 'are'. To improve, you should use more precise academic vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'surpass', 'account for', 'exceed', or 'a significant margin'. The repetition of 'production' and 'usage' also suggests a limited range of synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'production is far more below than the China' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'far lower than China's'. There are also issues with article usage ('the China', 'the Korea Republic') and awkward phrasing such as 'their consumption is also highest than other countries'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct comparative structures.

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

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