Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-01

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 changes in the value of a particular country's exports in various categories, including petroleum products, engineered goods, gems and jewellery, agricultural products, and textiles, between 2015 and 2016.

Overall, it is evident that the figures varied considerably across the categories, with some recording substantially higher figures, while another registered the lowest figures. Petroleum products and engineered goods recorded the highest values in the first year, whereas textiles recorded a noticeably lower figure in the final year. Meanwhile, the figure for agricultural products remained relatively similar during the given period.

Looking at the detail, in 2015, petroleum products recorded a noticeably higher figure, at just over $61 billion. Thereafter, engineered goods reported the second-highest figure, at nearly $56 billion in the first year. Moreover, textiles recorded the lowest figure,  at around $26 billion in 2015.

Looking most closely at the data, in 2016, petroleum products and engineered goods recorded the considerably higher figures, at slightly above $62 billion.  Gems and jewellery represented the second-highest figure, at approximately $41 billion in the final year. However, the figure for agricultural products and textiles remained relatively similar, at roughly $31 billion and $32 billion, in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the main task by outlining general export values, but it sits at a lower band because it fails to integrate the percentage change data provided in the table. While it mentions categories such as petroleum products and engineered goods, the overview is somewhat mechanical, stating that some categories recorded 'substantially higher figures while another registered the lowest figures' without drawing out meaningful comparisons. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies in the data reporting, such as stating that petroleum products and engineered goods both recorded slightly above $62 billion in 2016 when the chart shows them at different levels ($63 billion and $62 billion respectively). Ideas are limited, and key trends from the table are entirely omitted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear division into paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for details. Logical connectors and transition phrases such as 'Overall, it is evident', 'Looking at the detail', and 'Looking most closely at the data' are used to guide the reader through the information. However, some referencing and sequencing feel slightly mechanical. While paragraphing is used appropriately, the internal progression of ideas within the body paragraphs is occasionally repetitive, which prevents the essay from achieving a higher band. Overall, the structural framework is present and generally effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to economic data and charts, such as 'categories', 'recorded', 'figures', and 'period'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though this is sometimes accompanied by awkward phrasing, such as 'recorded the considerably higher figures'. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate enough not to impede communication, with expressions like 'noticeably higher figure' and 'second-highest figure' demonstrating a sufficient range for basic precision, though a wider variety of precise verbs and adjectives would be needed to reach the next level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and participial phrases alongside simpler forms. There are frequent error-free sentences, showing good control over grammar and punctuation. For example, sentences such as 'The bar chart illustrates changes in the value of a particular country\'s exports...' are structurally sound and grammatically accurate. Minor slips do occur, such as the awkward superlative construction 'recorded the considerably higher figures' in the final paragraph, but overall, grammatical control is solid, making the writing easy to read and fully supporting clear communication throughout the text.

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