Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-25

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 6.0)

The bar chart illustrates the earnings in exports of a country in different categories between 2015 to 2016. In contrast, the table shows the percentage change in values of exports in 2015 as compared to 2016.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the revenue of petroleum and engineered products was maximum and the revenue of textiles and agricultural products was minimum in the bar chart after a period of change. While in the table, textiles gained the highest percentage change and agricultural products occupied the lowest percentage change in values.

First, in the bar chart, petroleum and agricultural products were sold at the same rate of approximately 62 billion dollars in both years 2015 and 2016. Petroleum products were sold at the rate of 60 billion dollars in 2015 and almost 58 billion dollars in 2016. Gems and jewellery had earnings of 40 billion dollars in 2016 and 42 billion dollars in 2015. Agricultural products again met almost the same percentage of sale rate with 30 billion dollars. Textiles' earning was near 26 billion dollars in 2015 and 31 billion dollars in 2016.

In sharp contrast to the bar chart, the table has textiles with the highest percentage change of 15.24%. Engineered products came second with 8.5% and gems and jewellery ranked third with 5.18%. Petroleum products met only 3% change in values. Agriculture products stood at the last position with 0.185% change in its values.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to cover the main features of both the bar chart and the table, providing an overview and specific data points. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies in the data reported. For instance, the student states that 'petroleum and agricultural products were sold at the same rate of approximately 62 billion dollars', which contradicts the visual data where petroleum was around 61-63 billion and agricultural products around 31 billion. Furthermore, the percentage change for agricultural products is misstated in the final paragraph as 0.185% instead of 0.81%. These inaccuracies across the body paragraphs detract from the accuracy of the response, placing it within the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs separating the bar chart and the table details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'First', and 'In sharp contrast' are used to structure the text, although some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different parts of the visual information. While referencing and linking are generally manageable, the occasional confusion in the data slightly disrupts the logical flow of comparisons, keeping the cohesion score at a solid Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, including terms like 'earnings', 'exports', 'percentage change', 'categories', and 'revenue'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary ('minimum', 'maximum', 'ranked third'). However, there are also noticeable awkward collocations and lexical errors, such as 'sold at the same rate' (instead of valued at or generated earnings of) and 'percentage of sale rate'. These inaccuracies do not entirely impede communication but prevent the vocabulary score from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like subordinate clauses ('While in the table, textiles gained...') and comparative constructions. There is a reasonable level of grammatical control with correct use of past tenses for the 2015-2016 data. However, there are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'Agriculture products stood at the last position with 0.185% change in its values' (where 'its' has an unclear antecedent or awkward possessive application). Despite these slips, the grammar and punctuation rarely impede overall comprehension, justifying a Band 6.0.

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