Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

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 were virtually identical, at roughly $31 billion and $32 billion, in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task partially, which is characteristic of this level. While the student attempts to summarise the main features and categories, there are noticeable inaccuracies and omissions in reporting the data. For instance, the student states that petroleum products and engineered goods recorded the highest values in the first year, but fails to clearly integrate or fully utilise the percentage change data provided in the table to enrich the response. Furthermore, some comparisons are imprecise or vague, such as stating that the figure for agricultural products remained relatively similar without fully contrasting the growth across all categories. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to ensure all key data points, including the table's percentage changes, are accurately selected, reported, and supported with precise figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt at logical sequencing, fulfilling the criteria for this band while showing the beginning elements of the next. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview, and moving into detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'thereafter', and 'however' are used to connect ideas, although referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical or repetitive, as seen with the repeated use of phrases like 'Looking at the detail' and 'Looking most closely at the data'. To achieve a higher band, the student should employ a wider and more flexible variety of cohesive devices to link sentences and paragraphs more smoothly without relying on formulaic transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, demonstrating an acceptable range that allows the student to communicate the general information clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'considerably higher', 'substantially', and 'virtually identical', though some word choices and phrasing lack complete precision. For example, describing two distinct categories as having figures that were 'virtually identical' at roughly $31 billion and $32 billion is slightly imprecise given the actual gap. Spelling and word choice errors are minimal and do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the writer should incorporate a wider range of sophisticated vocabulary and demonstrate more precise control over collocations and less common lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay displays good control of grammar and punctuation, showcasing a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences, which aligns well with this band. Complex structures are attempted with reasonable success, as seen in sentences like 'While the student attempts to summarise...' and 'Petroleum products and engineered goods recorded the highest values...'. Minor grammatical slips occur, such as the plural agreement issue in 'the figure for agricultural products and textiles were virtually identical', but these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To attain a higher band, the writer would need to maintain an even wider variety of error-free complex sentence structures throughout the entire response.

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