Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-24

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 8.5)

The bar chart compares the value of a country's exports in five categories in 2015 and 2016, while the table shows the percentage change in export earnings in 2016 compared with the previous year.

Overall, export earnings increased in four out of the five categories. Petroleum products and engineered goods remained the two largest export sectors in both years, while textiles experienced the most significant growth. By contrast, gems and jewellery were the only category that recorded a decline.

In 2015, petroleum products generated the highest export revenue, at around $61 billion, and this figure rose slightly to approximately $63 billion in 2016, representing an increase of 3%. Similarly, earnings from engineered goods climbed from about $58 billion to $62 billion, an increase of 8.5%.

Regarding the remaining categories, gems and jewellery earned roughly $43 billion in 2015 before falling to about $41 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%. Agricultural products showed almost no change, rising marginally from around $31 billion to just over $31 billion, reflecting a 0.81% increase. Meanwhile, textiles recorded the substantial growth, with export earnings increasing from approximately $26 billion in 2015 to around $31 billion in 2016, equivalent to a rise of 15.24%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features, including the overall trends and specific data points for all five categories. The inclusion of both the bar chart values and the table's percentage changes demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the data. You have effectively highlighted the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewellery, while also noting the stability of agricultural products. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the main trends, which is essential for a high band score. No information is missing, and the comparisons between the two years are well-integrated throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general trends to specific category details. You have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'By contrast', and 'Meanwhile' to link sentences and ideas naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the relationship between the bar chart data and the table percentages is clearly articulated throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'generated the highest export revenue', 'remained the two largest export sectors', and 'recorded the substantial growth' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The use of reporting verbs and adverbs such as 'climbed', 'fell', and 'marginally' adds precision to your description of the data. While the vocabulary is accurate and natural, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'increase' or 'decrease' could further elevate the lexical range. Overall, the language is precise and effectively conveys the intended meaning without error.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'while' clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'representing an increase of 3%'). The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the tense usage is consistent throughout the report. The structure is sophisticated enough to meet the requirements for a high band score, showing flexibility and accuracy in handling complex data comparisons.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.