Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-18
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 amount of electricity spent and generated by a top ten countries 12 years ago. The mesure unit was billion kWh.
Overall, China ranked nubmber one in this field in 2014 with almost balanced use and production of electricity followed by the USA however, the last place goes for Korea Rep.
In 2014,China manufacture of electricity accounted for 5,398 billion kWh. It is almost the same amount used this year.Then it came the USA with aroud 4,000 billion kWh of creation and exactly 3,866 of consumption.
Then, Russia ranked the third with a large gap compared with the previous two its numbers went for approximately 1,000 for both production and use likewise, it came Japan with 936,2 of production and more little than 850 for consumption.
Germany took the nineth place with 526 of production less than its use which was 582 and finally Korea Rep with respectively 485 and 449 of electricity manufacture and consumption.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the bar chart, identifying the top countries and comparing production and consumption. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the report mentions China and the USA but fails to highlight the significant disparity between the top two countries and the rest of the list. The data selection is generally accurate, but the description of the 'nineth' place and the 'last place' lacks precision in terms of the overall ranking context. To improve, ensure that the overview provides a more analytical summary of the trends rather than just listing figures, and ensure all data points are clearly linked to the specific categories of production and consumption.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'Then it came the USA' and 'likewise, it came Japan'. These transitions feel repetitive and do not always flow naturally. While the progression of ideas is clear, the referencing is sometimes imprecise, and the paragraphing could be more effectively used to group countries by their production/consumption patterns rather than just listing them sequentially. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'mesure unit', 'nubmber', 'manufacture' (used as a noun for production), and 'nineth'. Phrases like 'more little than' are non-standard and hinder the professional tone of the report. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology related to data reporting, such as 'generated', 'consumed', 'surpassed', or 'a significant margin', and ensure accurate spelling of ordinal numbers and technical terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'a top ten countries', 'the last place goes for Korea Rep', and 'its numbers went for approximately 1,000'. The misuse of prepositions and articles is noticeable throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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