Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04
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 6.5)
The bar chart and table present data on a country's export earnings in different categories in 2015 and 2016, along with the percentage change from 2015 to 2016.
In terms of export earnings, petroleum products and engineered goods were the top-two categories in both years. Petroleum products earned around 60 billion dollars in 2015 and slightly more in 2016, while engineered goods increased from approximately 57 billion in 2015 to over 60 billion in 2016. Gems and jewellery, agricultural products, and textiles had lower earnings, with gems and jewellery seeing a decline in value from approximately 42 billion in 2015 to around 40 billion in 2016. Textiles, on the other hand, observed a significant increase from approximately 26 billion in 2015 to over 30 billion, while agricultural products remained relatively stable at around 30 billion.
The table reveals that most categories experienced growth in 2016 except for gems and jewellery. Textiles had the highest percentage increase at 15.24%, followed by engineered goods at 8.5%. Petroleum products and agricultural products also grew by 3% and 0.81% respectively. However, gems and jewellery witnessed a 5.18% decrease in value.
Overall, the export performance showed a mixed trend across different product categories.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the top-earning categories (petroleum and engineered goods) and the contrasting performance of textiles versus gems and jewellery. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between the bar chart and the table is handled well. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the trends. To reach a higher band, you could aim to integrate the data more fluidly by grouping categories with similar trends rather than listing them, which would further demonstrate your ability to highlight significant features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that separate the chart data from the table data, and a brief concluding overview. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'while', 'on the other hand', and 'however' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. The structure is coherent throughout, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases such as 'export earnings', 'relatively stable', 'witnessed a decrease', and 'mixed trend' are used accurately. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report. While the range is adequate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations related to economic data (e.g., 'marginal growth', 'plummeted', or 'surged') would elevate the lexical profile of the response. Overall, the word choice is natural and supports clear communication throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while engineered goods increased...', 'except for gems and jewellery'). The grammar is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is handled correctly, and sentence structures are varied enough to maintain interest. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a hallmark of a high-scoring response. Continued focus on maintaining this level of accuracy while experimenting with more complex sentence patterns will ensure you remain in the higher band range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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