Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-02
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 how 10 different countries produced and consumed the electricity in the year 2014.
Overall, it can be seen that China and US being the top two countries to consume as well as produce the electricity. While, Korea is ranked as the lowest in the chart being the 10th counntry.
Looking first at the highest figure which is China consumed 5322 kWh of the electricity with the production of 5398 kWh. US being second in the list producing and consuming slightly less than China. Whereas, Russia followed by Japan being the closest on fourth and fifth position with around a 1000 kWh.
Meanwhile, India being at number 5 with the production of 871 kHw and consuming about 698 kWH. Talking about other countries, Canada, France, Brazil and Germany were all having relatively similar figures. While, Korea was the last one out of all the ten countries reaching the consumption and production level of approximately 500.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the bar chart, identifying the top producers/consumers and the lowest-ranked country. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, you state India is at number 5, but the chart shows it at number 4. Furthermore, the description of the data for countries like Russia and Japan is vague, stating they are at 'around a 1000 kWh', which lacks the precision required for Task 1. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe figures from the chart and provide more specific comparisons between the production and consumption levels for the countries mentioned, rather than grouping them too broadly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Meanwhile, India being at number 5' is grammatically awkward and lacks a proper link to the previous sentence. The referencing is also occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where you mention 'other countries' without clearly distinguishing them from the ones previously discussed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'produced' and 'consumed' repeatedly. There are also some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'counntry' and 'kHw'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to data analysis, such as 'accounted for', 'surpassed', or 'a marginal difference'. Additionally, ensure consistency in your terminology and pay closer attention to spelling to avoid unnecessary errors that distract the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'China and US being the top two countries' is a sentence fragment, and 'India being at number 5' is also grammatically incomplete. You often omit necessary articles (e.g., 'the electricity') or use them incorrectly. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that every sentence contains a main verb. Practicing the construction of complex sentences will help you move beyond simple structures and reduce the frequency of these recurring grammatical slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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