Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-18

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 7.5)

This horizontal bar graphs compare the electricity generation and usage in 2014.with figures measured in billion kilowatt-hours.

Overall, it is clear that China and the United States dominated both electricity production and consumption by a considerable margin, while all ten countries generated more electricity than they used, indicating a surplus in every case.

China topped the chart as the world's largest producer and consumer of electricity, generating 5,398 billion kWh and consuming 5,322 billion kWh, figures that were roughly 30% higher than those of the second-placed United States, which produced 4,099 billion kWh and consumed 3,866 billion kWh. Russia occupied third position, though its output of 1,057 billion kWh was little more than a fifth of America's figure, highlighting a steep drop-off after the top two nations.

The remaining seven countries produced and consumed considerably smaller amounts, ranging from roughly 485 to 936 billion kWh. Japan and India followed Russia, generating 936.2 and 871 billion kWh respectively, while Canada, France, Brazil, Germany and South Korea recorded broadly similar figures clustered between 485 and 619 billion kWh. Notably, Germany was the only country where consumption (582.5 billion kWh) exceeded production (526.6 billion kWh), setting it apart from every other nation on the list, all of which produced a surplus of electricity.

In terms of the production-consumption gap, Canada displayed the widest margin proportionally among the lower-ranked countries, producing almost 119 billion kWh more than it consumed, whereas Japan's gap was comparatively narrow at under 80 billion kWh relative to its overall output.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the chart and making relevant comparisons. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the dominance of China and the US as well as the overall surplus in every country. Key data points are accurately cited, such as China's figures of 5,398 and 5,322 billion kWh. Interestingly, the student's observation regarding Germany having higher consumption than production directly corrects an erroneous claim in the student's own overview (where they stated all countries produced more than they used), but the detailed report itself correctly notes Germany as an exception. The information is well-supported with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression from a general overview to specific details and comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a distinct introduction containing an overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing top producers and lower-ranked nations. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', 'notably', and 'respectively' are managed skillfully and enhance the readability of the text. Referencing is clear throughout, and the essay flows naturally without intrusive or mechanical transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary and precise reporting language are used effectively, such as 'dominated', 'considerable margin', 'steep drop-off', 'proportionally', and 'comparatively narrow'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, with only a very minor punctuation slip in the opening sentence ('2014.with'). The vocabulary allows for precise descriptions of the trends and data relationships.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and comparative structures (e.g., 'figures that were roughly 30% higher than those of the second-placed United States', 'Notably, Germany was the only country where consumption... exceeded production...'). Punctuation and grammar are tightly controlled, with only a minor spacing error at the very beginning of the response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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