Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19
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 two graphical representations below illustrate the value of a nation's exports in five groups since 2015 and 2016, as well as the percentage change in export earnings in 2016 compared with 2015.
Overall, the country traded internationally five main categories of goods, for instance petroleum products, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agricultural products and textile. Among of these petroleum products and engineered goods were the leading source of export revenue in both years, while agriculture products and textiles contributed less to the total export earning.
In 2016, there was a noticeable decline in the value of gems and jewellery exports. This experienced a decrease of 5.18% falling from billion dollar in 2015 to just over billion in 2016.This was the only department that recorded a significant drop during the period.
In contrast, textile exports showed remarkable growth. The percentage change in value increased significantly to 15.24% in 2016 compared to 2015, making textiles the fastest growing export category, While, agricultural products recorded only a marginal increase of 0.81%, indicating minimal growth and making it the least improved sector within the given timeframe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, such as the leading export categories and the contrasting trends in gems/jewellery and textiles. However, the response lacks specific data points from the chart. You mention 'billion dollar' without providing the actual figures, which is a significant omission for an Academic Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, you must include precise data from the graph to support your descriptions. While you have summarized the information, the lack of specific values makes the report less informative than required.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific trends. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'While', and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences in the second paragraph could be smoother. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'graphical representations', 'export revenue', and 'marginal increase'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'department' to refer to an export category, which is not the most precise term in this context. Additionally, there are some grammatical errors related to word forms, such as 'Among of these'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for data reporting and ensure collocations are accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Among of these petroleum products and engineered goods were...' and 'falling from billion dollar in 2015 to just over billion in 2016'. These errors, while not impeding communication, occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but ensure that you proofread for missing articles and incorrect preposition usage to improve the overall accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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