Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-14

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 and the table present the valuation of a nation's exports in diverse categories and the percentage change in individual category of export products between 2015 and 2016.

Overall, it is quite evident that except jewellery section, all other products have increased in exportation. Petroleum and textiles sectors have exported more than other categories during the given period of time.

On the one hand, petroleum products has earned 3% from 2015 to 2016 from around 61$ billion to approximately 63$ billion. Likewise, engineered goods has also increased in exports from 57$ to 62$ billion at 8.5% in 2016. However, this

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern that most categories rose and that gems and jewellery was the exception, and you include relevant figures for petroleum and engineered goods. However, the response addresses the task only partially: it stops before reporting the remaining categories, so the notable fall in gems and jewellery and the strong rise in textiles are not explained. The overview also says petroleum and textiles “have exported more than other categories,” which is unclear as a comparison across the period; petroleum was the highest-valued category, while textiles showed the largest percentage increase. The response is also 48 words below the required minimum, leaving the key features underdeveloped. Include a complete overview and compare the main values and percentage changes across all categories.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph beginning to describe the figures. The contrast marker “However” also signals an intended comparison. Nevertheless, the response ends mid-sentence at “However, this,” so there is no clear progression through the remaining data or a completed final paragraph. “On the one hand” is not followed by a corresponding “on the other hand” section, and the categories are not grouped or compared consistently. To improve organisation, complete the discussion by grouping the increases together and then describing the decline in gems and jewellery, using clear links between each point. This would make the progression easier to follow rather than leaving the reader with an unfinished comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “percentage change,” “categories,” “increased,” and “approximately,” and the intended meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “valuation” and “diverse categories,” though these are not always natural in this context. Phrases such as “increased in exportation” and “petroleum products has earned 3%” are imprecise or awkward, and “jewellery section” is less suitable than a clear category label. Aim for accurate collocations used in data reporting, such as “export earnings rose by” and “the value of exports.” This will make comparisons more precise without requiring unnecessarily elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple statements and attempts at more complex structures, for example the overview beginning “Overall, it is quite evident that…” and the contrast introduced by “However.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. In “petroleum products has earned,” the plural subject requires “have,” while “engineered goods has also increased” has the same agreement problem. The phrase “from 2015 to 2016 from around 61$ billion” also creates an awkward, unclear sentence pattern, and the final sentence is incomplete. Use a consistent structure such as “Earnings from petroleum products rose from about $61 billion to $63 billion.” Check subject–verb agreement, sentence completion, and punctuation when presenting figures.

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