Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-02
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 chart compares the earnings generated by exporting distinct valuable products in two consecutive years and table depicts the variations in proportions of exports in 2015 and 2016.
Overall, more billion dollars were spent on all the resources in 2016 except jewellery and agricultural products, whereas textiles were exported in large quantity compared with other goods.
There was no significant difference between the money allocated on petroleum in both the years. In 2015, around 60 and 42 billion dollars were spent on exporting engineered goods and gems respectively. In the upcoming year, it increased gradually for the former category and fell by 2 dollars in the latter. Almost similar interest was revealed by people on agricultural products in 2015 and 2016. A small value of exports was observed in case of textiles accounting for nearly 30 dollars.
Moving further, a tiny proportion was spent on petroleum and jewellery accounting 3% and 5%. Agriculture was the least preferred figure in terms of exports.
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 chart and table, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual inaccuracies. For example, you state that 'textiles were exported in large quantity' and 'accounting for nearly 30 dollars', which misinterprets the data provided in the chart. Additionally, the description of the percentage changes in the table is vague and lacks specific data points to support the comparisons. To improve, ensure you accurately extract figures from the visual aids and provide a clearer overview that highlights the most significant trends rather than listing individual data points without context.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'Moving further', the transition between the description of the bar chart and the table is abrupt. Some sentences lack clear logical links, making the relationship between the data sets feel mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as grouping categories by their performance trends (e.g., those that increased vs. those that decreased).
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are instances of imprecise word choice. Phrases like 'money allocated on' and 'preferred figure' are not natural in this context. You also struggle with accurate reporting of data, such as using 'dollars' without specifying the unit (billions). While you attempt to use some variety, the lack of precision in describing economic trends limits your score. Focus on using more specific collocations related to data reporting, such as 'experienced a rise', 'remained stable', or 'a marginal decrease'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'more billion dollars were spent on all the resources' and 'accounting 3% and 5%'. The use of prepositions is also inconsistent, for example, 'interest was revealed by people on agricultural products'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these frequent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing statistical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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