Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-05
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 value of a country's export in different categories during 2015 and 2016. The table illustrates the proportion change by comparing the exports in 2015 and 2016.
Overall, the chart shows the highest value of petroleum products in both 2015 and 2016 while the textiles shows the lowest value in 2015 and 2016.
On the other hand, the table shows the percentage change in value of these products in which Gems and jewellery shows lowest change while all other show fluctuation in the values during 2015 and 2016.
By comparison, it has been observed that the value of Petroleum products
was higher at 60.3 billions $ than in 2016. Similarly, there is more fluctuation in value of Engineered goods at 60.1billion $ which was 50.7 billion$ in 2015. The same fluctuation have seen in Gems and jewellery. But there is no change in agriculture products from 2015 to 2016. But again, the textiles shows some variation from 20. 75 to 30.1billion $.
The table described the highest change in percentage value in textiles at 15.24% and engineered goods are at 8.5% was ranked in second number.
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 all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of both the chart and the table. You successfully identified the highest and lowest categories and noted the percentage changes. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For example, you state that 'there is no change in agriculture products,' but the data provided in the prompt (if visible) would likely show a specific percentage. Additionally, the comparison of values between 2015 and 2016 is occasionally confusing, such as the statement regarding petroleum products being higher in 2015 than 2016 without clearly contrasting the specific figures. To improve, ensure that all data points cited are accurate and that comparisons are logically structured to highlight trends rather than just listing numbers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall,' 'On the other hand,' and 'By comparison' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'The same fluctuation have seen in Gems and jewellery.' The progression of ideas could be smoother; for instance, the transition from discussing the bar chart to the table could be more integrated. Improving the use of cohesive devices to connect data points more naturally would help elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion change,' 'fluctuation,' and 'variation.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'ranked in second number' is not standard English; 'ranked second' would be more appropriate. You also repeat the word 'value' frequently. To reach a higher band, try to use more precise synonyms and ensure that collocations are natural. Expanding your vocabulary to include more varied ways of describing trends and changes would also be beneficial.
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 that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('textiles shows,' 'The same fluctuation have seen') and awkward phrasing ('at 60.3 billions $'). Punctuation and capitalization errors, such as the spacing in '20. 75' and the inconsistent use of the dollar sign, also detract from the quality. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring that complex structures are formed correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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