Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-24

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 top ten nations in terms of electricity generation and usage in 2014, measured in billion kWh.

Overall, China and the United States were by far the biggest producers and consumers. In most countries, electricity production was higher than consumption, except in Germany.

China ranked first, producing 5,398 billion kWh and consuming 5,322 billion kWh. The US was second, generating 4,099 billion kWh while using 3,866 billion kWh. Both countries recorded much higher figures than the rest of the nations listed.

Russia held third place, with both production and consumption slightly over 1,000 billion kWh. The figures for the remaining countries—Japan, India, Canada, France, Brazil, Germany, and South Korea—were considerably lower, ranging between 449.5 and 936.2 billion kWh. Interestingly, Germany was the only country that consumed more electricity (582.5 billion kWh) than it produced (526.6 billion kWh).To expand the response while keeping it natural and realistic for a high-scoring candidate, we can add a dedicated paragraph before the conclusion that explores how these two subjects actually complement each other in real-world scenarios.

Furthermore, these two fields do not need to exist in opposition; rather, they can complement each other effectively in modern education. Scientific and technological developments often bring complex ethical dilemmas, such as the rise of artificial intelligence or genetic engineering. History provides students with the moral context and human perspective needed to navigate these technical tools responsibly. When students understand both the technical mechanics of innovation and the historical consequences of previous technological shifts, they are far better prepared to apply new discoveries for the greater good of society.

In conclusion, both fields play distinct yet vital roles in education. While science and technology equip students with practical tools to innovate and build the future, history provides the wisdom and context needed to manage that future responsibly. Therefore, schools should maintain a balanced curriculum that values both discipline areas equally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The first part of your response effectively summarizes the main features of the bar chart, identifying the top producers and consumers and noting the exception of Germany. However, the response suffers from a major issue: the second half of the text (starting from 'To expand the response...') is completely irrelevant to the task. You have included an essay about education, science, and history, which has nothing to do with the provided data on electricity. This is a significant failure to address the task requirements, as the latter half of your writing is off-topic. While the initial analysis is accurate and well-selected, the inclusion of unrelated content severely impacts the overall task achievement score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The first paragraph is logically organized with a clear overview and supporting details. You use cohesive devices like 'Overall,' 'In most countries,' and 'Interestingly' effectively to guide the reader. However, the transition into the second half of the text is jarring and illogical because the content shifts abruptly to an entirely different topic. The paragraphing is technically present, but the lack of thematic unity between the two halves of the response means that the overall progression is disrupted. The cohesive devices used in the second half are appropriate for an essay, but they fail to connect to the data analysis provided in the first half.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing statistical data, such as 'generation,' 'usage,' 'ranked first,' and 'considerably lower.' These terms are used accurately and show a level of sophistication suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. In the second half of the text, you also use academic vocabulary like 'ethical dilemmas,' 'complement,' and 'curriculum.' While the vocabulary is generally strong and precise, the misuse of the task context prevents a higher score. You have a good command of language, but it must be applied consistently to the specific topic requested in the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use comparative structures effectively, such as 'China and the United States were by far the biggest producers' and 'Germany was the only country that consumed more electricity... than it produced.' The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors in punctuation or syntax. You show the ability to construct complex sentences with subordinate clauses, which is a positive feature. The grammatical control is consistent throughout the text, even though the content itself is irrelevant to the task in the latter half.

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