Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-05
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 8.0)
The bar chart illustrates the value of a country's exports in five different categories in 2015 and 2016, while the accompanying table presents the percentage change in export earnings in 2016 compared with the previous year.
Overall, export earnings increased in four of the five categories. Petroleum products and engineered goods were the highest-earning exports in both years, whereas gems and jewellery was the only category to experience a decline.
In 2015, petroleum products generated about $61 billion, making them the country's largest export. This figure rose slightly to approximately $63 billion in 2016, an increase of 3%. Similarly, the value of engineered goods increased significantly from around $58 billion to $62 billion, representing a growth of 8.5%.
The export value of gems and jewellery, however, fell from roughly $43 billion in 2015 to about $41 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%. By contrast, agricultural products showed only a modest rise, increasing from approximately $31 billion to just over $32 billion, equivalent to a growth of 0.81%.
Textiles recorded the most noticeable improvement. Export earnings climbed from around $26 billion in 2015 to slightly above $30 billion in 2016. This represented the highest percentage increase among all categories, at 15.24%.
In conclusion, the country's export performance improved overall between 2015 and 2016, with textiles showing the fastest growth, while gems and jewellery was the only sector to record a fall in export earnings.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features, such as the highest-earning categories and the only category to decline. The data is integrated well, with specific figures used to support the descriptions. The comparison between 2015 and 2016 is consistent and accurate throughout the report. You have effectively highlighted the most significant changes, such as the growth in textiles and the decline in gems and jewellery, meeting all requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and well-structured body paragraphs. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the data, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'similarly', 'by contrast', and 'however' are used effectively to link ideas and show relationships between the data points. The progression of information is smooth and natural, guiding the reader through the comparison of the two years without any confusion or mechanical repetition.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'highest-earning exports', 'recorded the most noticeable improvement', and 'equivalent to a growth of' show a high level of control. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and varied, which allows for a fluent reading experience. You have successfully avoided repetitive phrasing by using synonyms and varied sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have used complex sentences effectively, such as 'The export value of gems and jewellery, however, fell from roughly $43 billion in 2015 to about $41 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, and the writing is error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.
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