Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-25

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 7.5)

The bar chart compares the export earnings from five categories of products in 2015 and 2016, while the table shows the percentage change in their values over the same period.

Overall, petroleum products and engineered goods generated the highest export earnings in both years, whereas textiles had the lowest figure in 2015. Most categories experienced an increase in export value, with textiles recording the largest percentage growth. In contrast, the value of gems and jewellery declined.

In 2015, exports of petroleum products were worth approximately $61 billion, rising slightly to around $63 billion in 2016, representing a 3% increase. Similarly, earnings from engineered goods increased from about $57 billion to $61 billion, an overall rise of 8.5%. These two categories remained the most valuable exports in both years.

By comparison, exports of gems and jewellery fell from roughly $43 billion in 2015 to $40 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%. Agricultural products showed almost no change, with earnings remaining at approximately $31 billion despite a small increase of 0.81%. Finally, textiles recorded the most significant growth, increasing from around $25 billion to $30 billion. This represented a substantial rise of 15.24%, although textiles still had one of the lowest export values in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource7.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main features of the data, including the highest and lowest earners and the notable trends. You have integrated the data from both the bar chart and the table effectively, making relevant comparisons throughout. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the key findings. You have covered all parts of the task well, and the information is accurately presented with specific data points to support your claims. There are no omissions, and the response is well-balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific data. You have used cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'By comparison' effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'generated the highest export earnings', 'recorded the largest percentage growth', and 'remained the most valuable exports' demonstrate a good command of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations could elevate the response further. There are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('representing a 3% increase') and subordinate clauses ('although textiles still had one of the lowest export values'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. The sentence structures are varied, which helps maintain the reader's interest. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the few minor slips that might occur are not present here, indicating a high level of accuracy.

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