Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12
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 bar chart illustrates the value of one country's export in five different categories whereas the table shows the increment or decrement in percentage.
Overall, the petroleum product has the highest earning in both the year 2015 and 2016. The all four exports experienced the increase in exports earning in 2016, textiles with the largest percentage growth while gems and jewellery slightly decreases than previous year which is 2015.
The proportion in all the exports except gems and jewellery was increased. In the year 2016 highest percentage recorded in textiles which is 15.24%, 8.5% growth is noticed in engineering and goods export, 3% increment in export earning of petroleum and products furthermore a slightly increment of 0.81% was experienced in agricultural products.
Gems and jewellery is the only exports which shows the decline in earning although it is not a huge percentage of decline than the year 2015. It decreases 5.18% of the export earning of a country in 2016.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the data, including the highest earner and the general trends. You correctly highlighted the growth in most categories and the decline in gems and jewellery. However, the response lacks a clear integration of the actual values from the bar chart; you mention the percentage changes from the table but do not provide specific data points for the export values in 2015 and 2016. To reach a higher band, ensure you support your summary with specific figures from both the chart and the table to provide a more comprehensive overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'in the year 2016'. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure that your paragraphing focuses on grouping related information more effectively, perhaps by contrasting the growth categories with the declining one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, using terms like 'increment', 'decrement', and 'proportion'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the all four exports' (should be 'all four export categories') and 'a slightly increment' (should be 'a slight increment'). Additionally, the phrasing 'highest earning' could be more precisely expressed as 'highest export value'. While your vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the petroleum product has the highest earning' (should be 'petroleum products had the highest earnings') and 'gems and jewellery slightly decreases' (should be 'decreased'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are areas that need attention, as you occasionally switch between present and past tenses when describing the 2015/2016 data. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to limit your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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