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 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 figures 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 main parts of the task by identifying categories and making some comparisons between 2015 and 2016, yet it fails to integrate the table data regarding percentage changes, focusing almost exclusively on the bar chart. Furthermore, some data points are inaccurate or poorly expressed; for instance, stating that textiles recorded the lowest figure at around $26 billion in 2015 while also stating that agricultural products remained relatively similar, misses key trends and precise reporting. The overview attempts to highlight general patterns, but the lack of engagement with the percentage change table restricts the depth of the response. To reach a higher level, the writer must comprehensively cover all parts of the visual data, including the percentage changes, and support all assertions with accurate figures from the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear overall arrangement and logical progression, moving from an introductory statement to an overview and subsequent body paragraphs detailing specific years. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate general trends from detailed data. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', and 'Thereafter' are employed to guide the reader, although some referencing and transitional phrasing can feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. To move towards a higher band, the writer needs to ensure that cohesive devices are used more flexibly and that logical relationships between sentences are managed with greater subtlety and precision.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student displays an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terminology such as 'petroleum products', 'engineered goods', and 'agricultural products'. There are also attempts to use less common phrasing like 'considerably higher figures' and 'virtually identical'. However, minor inaccuracies in word choice and expression occur, such as stating 'another registered the lowest figures' when referring to multiple categories, and occasional slight awkwardness in collocation. To achieve a higher score, the writer must expand the range of vocabulary used to describe trends and variations, exercising greater precision and control over less common lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating strong control over grammar and punctuation. Complex structures such as introductory participial phrases and relative clauses are handled effectively. The majority of verb forms, articles, and prepositions are accurate, allowing the text to flow smoothly without communication being hindered. To reach the highest band, the writer would need to maintain an even wider range of sophisticated sentence patterns with near-total absence of minor slips and absolute precision across all complex grammatical forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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