Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-29

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 8.0)

The bar graph compares the ten leading countries in terms of electricity production and consumption in 2014.

Overall, China and the United States were by far the largest producers and consumers of electricity in 2014, while Russia ranked a distant third. Production exceeded consumption in almost all countries, with Germany being the only exception.

China ranked first in both electricity production and consumption in 2014, with figures of 5,398 and 5,322 billion kWh, respectively, the highest among all the countries shown. The United States followed, producing 4,099 billion kWh and consuming 3,866 billion kWh. Russia ranked third, with production and consumption figures of 1,057 and 1,038 billion kWh, respectively. Although there was a considerable gap between the first two countries and Russia, the difference between Russia's production and consumption was relatively small.

Among the remaining countries, Japan and India recorded the highest levels of electricity production and consumption, with Japan generating 936.2 billion kWh and consuming 856.7 billion kWh, compared with India's 871 and 698.8 billion kWh, respectively. Canada, France, Brazil and South Korea had considerably lower figures, with production ranging from 485.1 to 618.9 billion kWh and consumption from 449.5 to 499.9 billion kWh. Germany was the only country where consumption exceeded production, at 582.5 billion kWh and 526.6 billion kWh, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses the requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dominance of China and the United States, and made relevant comparisons, including the notable exception of Germany where consumption exceeded production. The data is accurately reported, and the overview provides a clear summary of the trends observed in the chart. By grouping the countries logically, you have ensured that all parts of the prompt are covered well, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow and interpret.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis, and the grouping of countries in the third and fourth paragraphs is sensible. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'in contrast' are used naturally to link ideas and comparisons. The flow between sentences is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words. The structure is coherent throughout, making the information easy to digest.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'by far the largest producers', 'recorded the highest levels', and 'considerably lower figures' show a good command of language. The use of 'respectively' to handle multiple data points is precise and avoids ambiguity. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is sophisticated enough to convey the information clearly and accurately. The language is natural and fits the formal tone required for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'Although there was a considerable gap between the first two countries and Russia, the difference between Russia's production and consumption was relatively small.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall quality of the writing is very high, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

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