Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-12

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 6.5)

The bar chart that how the value of one country’s exports in different categories between 2015 and 2016. The table illustrates the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.

Overall, it is clear that petroleum products generated the highest income in both years, while textiles saw the biggest percentage increase. Most categories experienced an increase in value, except for gems and jewellery, which decreased.

In 2015, petroleum products were the top export, earning around 60 billion dollars, and this figure went up slightly by 3% in 2016 to reach over 60 billion. Engineered goods were the second largest export, starting at about 57 billion dollars in 2015 and rising by 8.5% to reach roughly 62 billion dollars in 2016.

Looking at the remaining categories, gems and jewellery had earnings of approximately 42 billion in 2015, but dropped by 5.18% in 2016 to around 40 billion. Agricultural products remained almost unchanged, showing a slight growth of 0.81% from around 31 billion dollars. Lastly, textiles experienced the highest growth rate of 15.24%, rising from about 25 billion in 2015 to around 31 billion in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1. You provide a clear overview outlining the main trends, such as petroleum products generating the highest income and textiles experiencing the greatest percentage increase. You also select and report key data accurately from both the bar chart and the table, making relevant comparisons across categories like engineered goods, gems and jewellery, and agricultural products. Figures are cited appropriately (e.g., petroleum products earning around 60 billion dollars, and textiles rising to around 31 billion). All parts of the visual data are adequately covered with well-selected highlights, demonstrating a solid understanding of the information presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is well-organised and easy to follow, displaying a clear logical progression throughout. You make effective use of paragraphing, with a clear introduction, an overall summary paragraph, and distinct body paragraphs detailing specific categories. Cohesive devices are handled reasonably well, using transitional phrases such as "Overall, it is clear that", "In 2015", and "Looking at the remaining categories" to guide the reader smoothly between ideas. Referencing between the text and the visual data is clear, though slightly more varied cohesive linking could elevate the flow further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary range is sufficient to describe the data accurately and flexibly. You use appropriate data-reporting terms such as "generated the highest income", "percentage increase", "earnings", and "growth rate". While much of the vocabulary is standard for Task 1, you attempt some less common expressions like "remaining categories" and "almost unchanged". There is one notable grammatical slip regarding vocabulary frame in the opening sentence ("The bar chart that how the value"), but overall lexical choices successfully convey precise numerical trends without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., "except for gems and jewellery, which decreased" and "rising by 8.5% to reach roughly 62 billion dollars"). Grammatical control is generally strong, though there is a major verb omission in your very first sentence ("The bar chart that how..." should be "shows how"). Aside from this initial slip, the majority of sentences are accurate, punctuation is well handled, and complex structures are attempted with a good degree of success.

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