Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-15

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 illustrates the top ten countries for the production and consumption of electricity in 2014.

Overall, China became the country with highest production and consumption of electricity. With United States second on list of generating electricity. In addition, Russia, Japan and India with similar figures of producing electricity. Korea republic with lowest consumption and production of electricity.

Firstly, China with almost equal 5306 kWh production and consumption of electricity in 2014 with United states second on the list with minor difference in generating power. Russia, Japan and India with maximum 1000 kWh production and 900 kWh consumption of electricity.

Secondly, Canada, France and Brazil in the middle of the list with lesser production and consumption of power, with maximum of 550 kWh in production and 450 kWh in consumption. Moreover, Germany with similar figures and Korea republic shared the lowest production and consumption of electricity with 485 kWh in production and 449 kWh in consumption of electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview and identifies the main features, such as China's leading position and the grouping of countries. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, stating 'Russia, Japan and India with maximum 1000 kWh' is inaccurate as the chart shows these countries are below that threshold. Furthermore, the description of the middle group is vague, and the comparison between countries could be more analytical. While the key features are highlighted, the lack of accurate data interpretation and the tendency to over-generalize limit the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to specific groupings. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Moreover'). There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some sentences feel disjointed due to the omission of verbs (e.g., 'Russia, Japan and India with similar figures'). While the progression is generally clear, the reliance on simple structures and repetitive transitions prevents a higher score for cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. The student uses basic terms like 'figures', 'list', and 'middle of the list'. There are some inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'Korea republic' (should be 'The Republic of Korea') and 'generating power' used in a slightly awkward context. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise terminology related to data analysis, such as 'surpassed', 'accounted for', or 'a significant margin'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on sentence fragments, often omitting main verbs (e.g., 'Russia, Japan and India with similar figures'). This is a recurring grammatical issue that affects the overall fluency. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often grammatically incomplete or incorrectly punctuated. There is a lack of variety in sentence forms, and the frequent omission of articles (e.g., 'with United states second') further impacts the accuracy. The writing is understandable, but the grammatical control is inconsistent.

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

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