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 bar graph illustrates a country's export value in several categories during 2015 and 2016.

Overall, It is evident that export earnings were higher in 2016 and most significant was in petroleum and engineered goods. Meanwhile, textile and agriculture were on lower side.

In 2015 and petroleum products and engineering goods have the highest growth around $60 billions. The percentage of both of these products grew to 3% and 8.5% and respectivelly. On the other hand, Gems and jewellery's export declined from $42 billions to almost $40 billion during this time which is 5.18%.

Furthermore, textile industry is the only industry whose value rise in 2016 from $25 billions to almost $32 billion. Textile value in percentage climbed to 15.24% which is the most significant change for gi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is incomplete, and the final sentence is cut off mid-word, indicating an unfinished response. You have attempted to report on the data, but the lack of sufficient length means that the overview and the comparison of categories are not fully developed. To improve, ensure you provide a comprehensive summary that covers all categories presented in the chart and table, and always complete your sentences to ensure the information is fully conveyed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the abrupt ending of the text disrupts the flow of information. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that leads logically to the next. The current structure is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'export earnings', 'percentage change', and 'declined'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'on lower side' (should be 'on the lower side') and 'value rise' (should be 'value rose'). Additionally, there are minor spelling errors like 'respectivelly'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marginal increase', and pay closer attention to word forms and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'In 2015 and petroleum products... have the highest growth' (incorrect preposition/tense usage) and 'Textile value in percentage climbed' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the incomplete final sentence. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Aim for more error-free sentences by proofreading your work for basic grammatical slips before finishing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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