Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-06
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 provided bar chart depicts the values of production and consumption of electricity of the to ten countries in the year 2014.
Overall, what stands out from the data is that China was the most producer as well as consumer of electricity in 2014, followed by the USA which came second. However, Germany and Korea, Rep shared the lowest amount in both features.
China produced 5,398 billion kWh electricity, and 5,322 consumed in 2014. The USA came second by representing, 4,099 billion kWh for production, and 3,866 for consumption. The other countries, such as Russia and Japan showed a slight decrease in their amounts compared to the previous two. Russia produced 1,057 kWh of electricity, while Japan represented 936.2 kWh for production.
Similarly, India, Canada, and France showed declining in the values. India produced only 871 kWh, while 689.8 kWh consumed in the whole year. Just 499.9 billion kWh electricity was consumed by Canadians, and 462.9 by France. Brazil, Germany, and Korea, Rep were the lowest in both categories. Only 530.7 billion kWh of electricity produced by Brazilian, and 526.6 by Germany, only 485.1 by Koreans.
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 all parts of the task by identifying the top ten countries and comparing production and consumption. You successfully highlight the main features, such as China and the USA leading the chart, and correctly identify the lowest producers/consumers. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by inconsistent data reporting. For instance, you mention '1,057 kWh' for Russia, which is a significant inaccuracy compared to the '1,057 billion kWh' shown in the chart. Precision is vital in Task 1; omitting the 'billion' unit or misstating figures can lead to a lower score. Ensure all data points are accurately transcribed to fully meet the requirements of a Band 7 or higher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices like 'However', 'Similarly', and 'followed by' helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the top performers from the rest of the group. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother; some sentences feel like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive analysis. Using a wider variety of linking phrases to compare countries would elevate the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'depicts', 'consumption', and 'declining'. However, there are some awkward word choices and inaccuracies. For example, 'most producer' is grammatically incorrect; 'largest producer' would be more natural. Additionally, 'declining in the values' is not standard phrasing; 'a decline in values' or 'lower values' would be better. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. For example, 'the to ten countries' contains a typo, and '5,322 consumed' is missing a subject. You also struggle with prepositions and word forms, such as 'produced by Brazilian' instead of 'produced by Brazil'. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing articles or auxiliary verbs.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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