Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)
The bar chart illustrates the export revenue generated by a single nation across five distinct product categories in 2015 and 2016, measured in billions of dollars. Additionally, the accompanying table details the percentage variation in export values for each sector between the two years.
Overall, the country experienced growth in export earnings for four out of the five categories, with textiles showing the most significant relative surge. Petroleum products and engineered goods consistently brought in the highest revenue during both years, whereas gems and jewelry was the sole category to see a decline.
In terms of the highest earners, petroleum products ranked first in 2015 at just over $60 billion, increasing slightly by 3% in 2016 to reach approximately $63 billion. Engineered goods followed a similar upward trajectory, starting at around $57 billion and climbing by 8.5% to finish nearly level with petroleum products at roughly $62 billion in 2016.
Conversely export values for gems and jewelry experienced a contraction of 5.18%, dropping from roughly $43 billion in 2015 to around $41 billion by the end of the period. Agricultural products remained relatively stable, hovering around $30 billion with a minimal increase of 0.81%. In contrast, textiles recorded the most dramatic proportional rise of 15.24%, expanding from $25 billion to over 30 billion, bringing its final value level with agricultural products.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of both the bar chart and the table. You successfully identified the highest earners, the growth trends, and the single declining category. The inclusion of specific data points (e.g., '$60 billion', '15.24%') effectively supports your analysis. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the overall trends, which is essential for a high band score. You have made relevant comparisons between categories, such as noting that textiles and agricultural products reached similar levels by 2016. No information is missing, and the data is interpreted accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overall summary, the high-earning categories, and the remaining sectors. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Overall', 'Conversely', and 'In contrast' is natural and helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the report. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the bar chart and the table is integrated seamlessly into the narrative.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'export revenue generated', 'upward trajectory', 'contraction', and 'proportional rise' show a high level of lexical control. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. You have successfully avoided repetitive language by using varied synonyms to describe the trends in the data, which contributes to the professional tone of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'Petroleum products and engineered goods consistently brought in the highest revenue during both years, whereas gems and jewelry was the sole category to see a decline.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent and precise.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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