Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)
The bar chart illustrates the export earnings of a country across five product categories in 2015 and 2016, measured in billions of dollars. The table shows the percentage change in export values between these two years.
Overall, petroleum products generated the highest revenue in both years, whereas textiles earned the least. Most categories experienced an increase in export earnings, with gems and jewellery being the only category to decline.
In 2015, petroleum products recorded the highest export value at around $61 billion, which slightly increased by 3% in 2016. Engineered goods stood second, rising from about $57 billion to approximately $62 billion, representing an 8.5% growth. On the other hand, gems and jewellery dropped by 5.18%, falling from roughly $43 billion in 2015 to around $41 billion in 2016.
Agricultural products remained almost unchanged, with a slight increase of 0.81% from just above $30 billion. Finally, textiles saw the most significant rise of 15.24%, growing from about $25 billion to over $31 billion.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dominance of petroleum products and the contrasting performance of gems and jewellery. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between 2015 and 2016 is clear. You have integrated the table data (percentage change) well with the bar chart values. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant trends rather than just listing figures. For example, explicitly contrasting the highest growth (textiles) with the only decline (gems and jewellery) provides a stronger analytical overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'on the other hand', and 'finally' to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is natural. The structure is well-managed, making the information easy to follow throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'generated the highest revenue', 'recorded the highest export value', and 'remained almost unchanged' are used accurately. You successfully incorporate specific terminology related to the data, such as 'export earnings' and 'percentage change'. While the vocabulary is appropriate and precise, it remains somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms to describe trends, such as 'witnessed a marginal decline' or 'experienced a substantial surge'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('representing an 8.5% growth') and subordinate clauses ('whereas textiles earned the least'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. The use of tense is consistent and appropriate for describing past data. To improve further, ensure that you continue to vary your sentence beginnings and structures to maintain a high level of fluency and sophistication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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