Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-28
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 7.5)
The bar chart compares the value of a country’s exports in five categories in 2015 and 2016, while the table shows the percentage change in export values between these two years.
Overall, export earnings increased in four of the five categories. Textiles recorded the largest percentage growth, whereas gems and jewellery was the only category that decreased. Petroleum products had the highest export value in both years.
In 2015, petroleum products earned about $61 billion, rising slightly to around $63 billion in 2016, an increase of 3%. Engineered goods also increased considerably, from approximately $56 billion to $61 billion, representing an 8.5% rise. Agricultural products remained almost unchanged at about $31 billion, with a very small increase of 0.81%.
By contrast, earnings from gems and jewellery fell from around $43 billion in 2015 to $41 billion in 2016, a decrease of 5.18%. Textiles had the lowest earnings in 2015, at about $25 billion, but they rose to approximately $31 billion in 2016. This was the largest percentage increase, at 15.24%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and effectively reporting the main features of both the bar chart and the table. Data is reported accurately, with appropriate use of approximate figures such as about $61 billion for petroleum products in 2015 and around $63 billion in 2016. Key comparisons are made successfully, such as highlighting that textiles experienced the largest percentage growth while gems and jewellery was the sole category to decline. The response is fully grounded in the provided visual data with no noticeable inaccuracies or missing core details, meeting the high standards expected for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response exhibits a clear logical progression and a coherent overall structure. Ideas are well-organized into appropriate paragraphs, starting with a clear introductory paraphrase and a concise overview paragraph, followed by two well-structured body paragraphs that break down the categories logically. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'Overall', 'while', 'By contrast', and 'This was the largest percentage increase'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the reader can follow the comparisons smoothly without any disruption to the flow.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items and phrases are used with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'export earnings', 'percentage growth', 'remained almost unchanged', and 'representing an 8.5% rise'. Word choices are precise, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the range is slightly more functional than sophisticated, it easily satisfies the requirements for a high band by maintaining natural control throughout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The student displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases ('rising slightly to around $63 billion') and subordinate clauses ('while the table shows...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout. Punctuation is accurate, and verbs and noun-phrase agreements are handled correctly. Although the range of structures could be slightly more adventurous to reach the highest band, the control demonstrated over complex forms is consistent and effective.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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