Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-11
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)
This chart express the changes in percentage in exports of many categories in between the year of 2015 and and 2016, it clears the increasing rate in exports of 2016 as compared to 2015.
The given chart gives the information about the rising rate of exports in 2016 compared with 2015 which is low in every export in billions expect one export. The highest rise is in textiles and the lowest increase is in petroleum in 2016. Let me briefly explain the information provided in the chart.
Firstly, we will discuss the highest ranking exports change in 2016 which is textiles, it dramatically increased about 15.24% from almost 25 to 30 billion which is quiet surprising. The export comes after the textiles is engineered goods which is about 8.5% increased in 2016 from approximately to 60 billion.
Secondly, the export after engineered good which changed a little bit is petroleum products which rise about 3% in 2016 it is slightly higher about 60-62 billion which is decent. The most lowest increase is in agricultural products that is 0.81% which is almost the same in billions as in 2015. The only export which decreased is the Gems and jewellery, it falls percentage is 5.81% from 43 billion to 40 billion as the chart explains.
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 addresses the task by identifying key trends and making comparisons between the two years. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate, such as stating that the increase in petroleum was 'about 3%' when the table shows a different figure, or describing the rise in textiles as 'from almost 25 to 30 billion' without clear reference to the source data. While the main features are highlighted, the overview is repetitive and lacks a clear, concise summary of the overall trends. To improve, ensure that data points are cited with greater precision and that the overview synthesizes the information rather than just listing it.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow between sentences is often mechanical and sometimes awkward, such as the phrase 'The export comes after the textiles is engineered goods'. The use of cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' is present but feels formulaic. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which data points relate to which categories. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the logical progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary range is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'it clears the increasing rate' instead of 'it illustrates the growth' and 'The most lowest increase' (a double superlative). The use of 'quiet' instead of 'quite' is a common spelling error that affects the professional tone. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive or grammatically incorrect descriptors when discussing trends and figures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'This chart express'), incorrect preposition usage, and run-on sentences. For example, the opening sentence is a comma splice. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of minor errors in tense and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundary punctuation and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing data would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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