Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-06
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 chart 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 and 2015. The graph is comparison between the percentage changes in different products in two different years.
In 2015 Petroleum products, Engineered goods, Agricultural products and textiles had less export earnings as compared to their export earnings in 2016. On accounts firstly Petroleum products had a good rise of 3% export earnings. While on the other hand Engineered products had a quite good rise of 8.5% in export earnings. Furthermore Agricultural products had a minor rise of 0.81 percent in export earnings. Lastly textiles had a massive rise in exports earnings of 15.24%.
Except this rise in earnings of various products, Gems and jewellery experienced a decline of 5.18% in its exports values . Consequently, it fell from being third-highest export earner to the fourth trailing behind agricultural products.
In conclusion all the products had increased their export values in the year 2016 as compared to 2015 but only the Gems and jewellery had a decline in export values in 2016 comparitvely.
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
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall trends and specific category changes. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the percentage changes, you do not sufficiently integrate the actual export values provided in the chart to support your comparisons. The overview is also slightly inaccurate, as you state all products increased in value, whereas the data shows Gems and jewellery declined. To reach a higher band, ensure that your summary accurately reflects the data and provides a more balanced comparison between the two years, rather than just listing the percentage changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On accounts firstly', 'While on the other hand', and 'Consequently' to link ideas. However, some of these transitions are used incorrectly or sound unnatural, such as 'On accounts firstly'. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words would help the information progress more naturally throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'export earnings', 'decline', and 'massive rise'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'On accounts firstly' and 'comparitvely' (spelling error). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied collocations related to data description, such as 'witnessed a significant growth' or 'experienced a marginal increase', and ensure accurate spelling throughout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'The graph is comparison' (missing article), 'Except this rise' (incorrect preposition usage), and 'comparitvely' (spelling). Additionally, some phrasing is awkward, such as 'had a good rise of 3%'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.