Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-20
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 chart compares the export earnings of different categories in between the year 2015 to 2016.
Overall, the figures of categories are measured in $ billions, whereas the increment and decrement of categories and proportioned in percentage. The highest feature recorded were petroleum products and engineered goods. Meanwhile, other categories such as; gems and jewellery, agricultural products and textiles have average earning.
In 2015, petroleum products earned approximately $60 billions and reached upto $63 billion with the rise of 3%. Engineered goods made the earning of almost $54 billions, whereas successfully earned $61.5 billlions which is almost 8% of growth in compared to previous year. Gems and jewellery earned an average of $45 billions and fell slightly to $40 billions which counts 5% of loss.
Agricultural products remained relatively steady where they made of 0.81 percentage of profit which is more likely better. Textiles has the largest growth among these all categories where it made of 15.24%, grown from $22 billions to $37 billions respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the main features of the export earnings chart and table. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the text states that textiles grew 'from $22 billions to $37 billions', whereas the chart shows 2015 values around $26 billion and 2016 values around $31.5 billion. Furthermore, the overview is somewhat vague, stating that 'figures of categories are measured in $ billions, whereas the increment and decrement of categories and proportioned in percentage.' While key categories like petroleum products and engineered goods are identified, the misreading of specific figures impacts the overall accuracy of information presentation. The response meets the minimum word count requirement, but data handling prevents a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into four paragraphs, following a logical structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing specific categories. Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', and 'In 2015'. However, some transitions and referencing feel slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'whereas successfully earned $61.5 billlions' which lacks a clear subject. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, separating the overview from detailed body content, but the overall progression is somewhat hindered by imprecise phrasing and awkward phrasing in transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student attempts to use a range of vocabulary suitable for a data task, including terms like 'export earnings', 'increment', 'decrement', 'proportiond', and 'categories'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'proportioned in percentage' instead of 'expressed as percentages', 'average earning', and 'made of 0.81 percentage of profit'. Less common vocabulary is attempted but frequently inaccurate or unnatural. Spelling is mostly accurate, but word choice errors occasionally cause mild confusion for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as subordinate clauses ('while the increment and decrement...'). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several errors in prepositions, verb forms, and sentence structure, including 'in between the year 2015 to 2016', 'reached upto', 'which counts 5% of loss', and 'grown from $22 billions to $37 billions respectively' (where respective usage is incorrect). While these errors do not completely obscure meaning, they occur frequently enough to impede smooth reading and place the response firmly in the Band 5 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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