Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-13
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 and table illustrate changing in country's export value of given categories between 2015 to 2016.
Overall, all categories showed rise in the export except gems and jewellery which went downward. Petroleum products showed rise in export during both years, engineered goods were followed just behind, while textile remained lowest in the given categories.
In 2015, petroleum products showed 60 billion export, however, sale went slightly upward by 3% in 2016. Engineered goods jumped 8.5% in export from around 55 billion to 60 billion plus exportation between 2015 and 2016.
Agriculture products had slightly changed in exportation with 0.18%. Textiles showed dramatic positive change in export by maximizing it up to 15.24% in 2016, while these were the lowest in export ration in the year 2015.
On the other hand, gems and jewellery showed negative change in its export by going downward in a 5.18%, as compared to previous year's export.
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 successfully covers the main features of both the bar chart and the table. You have correctly identified the overall trends, noting that most categories rose while gems and jewellery went downward. You also successfully highlighted key data points, such as petroleum products generating 60 billion in 2015 with a 3% increase in 2016, engineered goods jumping by 8.5%, and textiles showing a significant 15.24% increase despite starting as the lowest category. However, some comparisons could be more clearly integrated between the two visual prompts, and the description of agriculture products ('had slightly changed in exportation with 0.18%') is slightly unnatural. Nonetheless, all parts of the prompt are addressed, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6, leaning towards Band 6.0 due to some under-developed comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement and follows a logical progression from an introductory overview to specific body paragraphs detailing individual categories. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty. Phrases like 'while these were the lowest' and 'On the other hand' are used, but referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'while these were the lowest in export ration in the year 2015' where 'these' awkwardly refers back to textiles). Cohesive devices are adequate rather than flexible, placing this response firmly in Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'categories', 'exportation', 'dramatic positive change', and 'negative change'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'illustrate changing in country's export value' (instead of 'change' or 'changes'), 'export ration' (instead of 'export ratio'), and 'going downward in a 5.18%' (unnatural preposition and article usage). These errors do not impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Petroleum products showed rise in export during both years, engineered goods were followed just behind, while textile remained lowest...' and 'Engineered goods jumped 8.5% in export from around 55 billion to 60 billion plus exportation between 2015 and 2016.' There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('illustrate changing in country's export value', 'showed rise'), singular/plural issues ('while textile remained'), and awkward phrasing. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching Band 7.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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