Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-11
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows the value of one country’s exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016. The table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The bar chart illustrates the export earnings of one country in petroleum products, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agricultural products and textiles in $ billions during 2015 and 2016. The table demonstrates the percentage change in values in 2016 compared to 2015.
Overall, it is evident that all products of 2016 are in greater amount except gems and jewllery as compared to 2015. All products of 2015 have a gradual decreae in its amount. Although the percentage of all products is increased except gems and jewellery which have decreased percentage in the table.
All products are slowly decreasing in bar chart both in 2015 and 2016. Petroleum products accounted for 62% and 64% in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Similarly, engineered goods representing 57% and 62% in 2015 and 2016. In addition, gems and jewellery are 44% and 41% in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, agricultural products are at same 31% and 32% in 2015 and 2016. Textiles having 28% and 32% in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Percentage change in value of four product categories petroleum products, engineered goods, agricultural products and textiles are increasing 35, 8.5%, 0.81% and 15.24% respectively. Navertheless, gems and jewellery is decreasing 5.18% in 2016 as compared to 2015.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the chart and table and include the main categories, while your overview correctly notes that gems and jewellery declined and the other categories rose. However, some key reporting is inaccurate or unclear: petroleum earnings are about $61bn and $63bn, not $62bn and $64bn, and the percentage change is 3%, not “35”. You also say that all products are “slowly decreasing” in the bar chart, which contradicts the increases shown. The overview would be stronger if it highlighted the highest and lowest earners and the largest rise, textiles. Select the main comparisons accurately and distinguish dollar values from percentage changes to make the summary more complete and reliable.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to category details and then the table, and linking phrases such as “Similarly” and “Moreover” help signal additions. However, progression is weakened by contradictory statements: the overview says all products are decreasing, while the final paragraph reports increases, and “All products are slowly decreasing” does not clearly connect to the figures that follow. The overview also repeats the point about gems declining. Grouping the chart comparisons in a clear order—such as highest to lowest—and then summarising the percentage changes would make the information easier to follow. Use linking expressions to show accurate relationships rather than simply adding another item.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant task vocabulary, including “export earnings,” “percentage change,” “accounted for” and “compared to,” so the reader can generally identify the subject and comparisons. However, several word choices are unnatural or imprecise, such as “in greater amount,” “All products … have a gradual decrease,” and “are increasing 35,” which make the intended meaning less clear. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “jewllery,” “decreae” and “Navertheless.” Use standard chart language such as “rose,” “fell,” “remained stable” and “export value,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would also help distinguish a category’s dollar earnings from its percentage change.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple statements and more complex constructions, including “Although the percentage of all products is increased except…” and “as compared to 2015.” The response is generally understandable, but errors in sentence structure and agreement recur. For example, “All products of 2015 have a gradual decrease in its amount” has an unclear subject and mismatched pronoun, while “Textiles having 28% and 32%” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. “Gems and jewellery is decreasing” also has a plural subject with a singular verb. Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense. A few carefully controlled complex sentences would improve range without sacrificing clarity.
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