Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-01

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 6.5)

The bar chart shows the amount of electricity produced and consumed by the top ten countries in 2014. The figures are given in billion kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Overall, China and the United States produced and consumed the most electricity, while South Korea had the lowest figures. The rankings for production and consumption were generally similar.

In terms of production, China was the largest producer, generating 5,398 billion kWh in 2014. The United States was second, with 4,099 billion kWh. Russia and Japan followed, producing 1,057 and 936.2 billion kWh, respectively. India and Canada produced 871 and 618.9 billion kWh.

France and Brazil produced 561.2 and 530.7 billion kWh, respectively. Germany and South Korea were the lowest producers, with 526.6 and 485.1 billion kWh. Regarding consumption, China was also first, consuming 5,322 billion kWh. The United States, Russia, Japan, India and Canada followed in the same order, while France, Brazil, Germany and South Korea consumed less than 600 billion kWh.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by presenting an overview and reporting the main features of electricity production and consumption in 2014. The overview clearly highlights that China and the United States led both categories, while South Korea recorded the lowest figures. However, some areas are under-developed compared to others. For instance, while production figures are detailed extensively with specific numbers for almost every country, the consumption data is handled more summarily at the end, grouping several nations together rather than exploring their individual metrics fully. To reach a higher level, the response should provide a more balanced and thorough comparison of both datasets across all ten countries rather than front-loading the production figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression throughout. Information is divided into logical paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs dedicated to production and consumption. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of production', 'respectively', and 'Regarding consumption' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some aspects of cohesion and referencing feel slightly mechanical, and the transition between discussing individual production figures and rushing through consumption data prevents the response from achieving a truly smooth, seamless flow. Further improvement would involve more integrated comparisons between production and consumption within the same sentences rather than treating them in strictly separate blocks.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate and appropriate for the task, successfully conveying numerical data and comparative information. The writer employs standard terms such as 'largest producer', 'generating', 'respectively', and 'consumed'. There are also successful attempts at less common vocabulary related to data reporting. However, word choice and range remain somewhat restricted, and the reliance on repetitive structures like 'produced and consumed' and 'billion kWh' prevents the lexical range from shining. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout, and communication is never impeded. To progress further, the student should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms and more sophisticated lexical chunks to describe trends and volumes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

This criterion is a strong point in the essay, showing good control and a variety of complex structures. The writer successfully employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating participial phrases and introductory prepositional clauses effectively, such as 'generating 5,398 billion kWh in 2014' and 'Regarding consumption, China was also first'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled well. While minor slips or slightly repetitive sentence frames appear occasionally, they never impede communication. To maintain and fully secure higher bands, the writer could introduce an even greater diversity of subordinate clauses and advanced grammatical patterns.

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