Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28
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)
This chart shows the value of one country's exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016 and this table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
The black color lines representing the data of 2015 and the grey color lines showing the data of 2016 and we have to make a comparison.
As we have seen a better increase in petroleum products because in 2015 petroleum products export is at 60 billion dollars and after one year it increased to 62 billion dollars. The engineered goods exports also followed the trend and it also showed a 3 billion dollars increase in 2016.
The third one is germs and jewellery export which showed a decrease as in 2015 it was at 42 billion dollars but in 2016 it decreased to 40 billion dollars. But if we see at agricultural products export here the figure is interesting as it did not showed any change. And in textiles we can see at least 3 billion dollars export increase.
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
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the increases in petroleum and engineered goods, and the decrease in gems and jewellery. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks a clear overview or summary of the trends. The inclusion of personal commentary, such as 'we have to make a comparison' and 'the figure is interesting', is inappropriate for an academic report. Furthermore, the response fails to integrate the table data (percentage change) effectively, merely listing individual figures rather than synthesizing the information to highlight significant patterns or contrasts. To improve, focus on grouping data logically and providing a concise overview of the most significant changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and repetitive, with phrases like 'The third one is' and 'The black color lines' creating a disjointed flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the chart data and the table data is not well-managed. The response lacks a clear structure, such as an introduction, a clear overview, and distinct body paragraphs for different categories. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'conversely', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help create a more cohesive and professional report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Terms like 'increase', 'decrease', and 'showed' are used repeatedly, which restricts the range of expression. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'germs' instead of 'gems' and 'black color lines' instead of 'black lines'. The phrasing is often informal and lacks the precision required for an academic task. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'experienced a marginal rise', or 'witnessed a significant decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical errors, such as 'it did not showed' (should be 'did not show') and 'the black color lines representing' (missing a verb). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clunky. There are frequent errors in verb tense and subject-verb agreement, which occasionally hinder the clarity of the report. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage—specifically the past tense for 2015/2016 data—and practicing the construction of complex sentences will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.