Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-10

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 5.5)

The bar graph elucidate the value of one country export in various categories during 2015 and 2016 . However the table illustrate the proportion change in each category of export in 2016 campared with 2015.

In an overview the highest value of bar graph export earnings 2015 to 2016 petroleum products , and lowest value of export earnings 2015 to 2016 textiles . Fuethermore, the highest percentage change values in table 2015 to 2016 textile , and the lowest percentage change value in table 2015 to 2016 gems and jewellery .

First and foremost, the value of petroleum products export earning in 2015 almost 61% and in 2016 near to 63% . As well as the value of engineered goods export earnings in 2015 almost 57% and in 2016 near to 62% . However the value of gems and jewellery , agricultural products and textile in export earning form 2015 to 2016 was 43% and 41% , 31% and 32% and almost 27% to 32% .

However, the vale of petroleum products change percentage in 2015 and 2016 3% engineered goods 8.5% and gems and jewellery decerease 5.18% .At least buit not last the percentage of agricultural products increase 0.18% . At the end of the percentage change in value textile 15.24% .

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall patterns: petroleum products are the highest-earning category, textiles show the strongest percentage growth, and gems and jewellery decline. You also include figures for all five categories, so the response addresses the chart and table. However, some details are inaccurate: textiles are not the lowest category in 2016, as agricultural products and textiles are both about $31.5 billion; and agricultural products rose by 0.81%, not 0.18%. The overview also calls gems and jewellery the lowest percentage change without clarifying that it is the only decrease. To strengthen the report, distinguish clearly between export values and percentage changes, and make the key comparisons more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. Some linking is effective, such as “In an overview” and “First and foremost,” but connectors are sometimes mechanical or unsuitable: repeated “However” does not always signal a contrast, and “At least buit not last” makes the final point harder to follow. The long sentence listing three categories also compresses several comparisons and figures, reducing clarity. Grouping the two highest-earning categories together, then comparing the remaining categories, would create a clearer progression. Use fewer, more precise linking phrases and ensure each sentence has one main comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “export earnings,” “percentage change,” “petroleum products” and “gems and jewellery,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, word choice and spelling errors are noticeable and sometimes make the report less precise. Examples include “proportion change” for the change in value, “bar graph elucidate,” “vale,” “campared” and “decerease.” The repeated use of “value” and “export earnings” also limits flexibility, while “almost” and “near to” are not always natural ways to report approximate figures. Aim for accurate collocations such as “export revenue,” “rose to” and “recorded a decline,” and check spelling carefully. This would make the vocabulary more controlled and appropriate to a data report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the response is divided into paragraphs, but grammatical control is uneven. Several sentences omit necessary verbs or articles, as in “the value of petroleum products export earning in 2015 almost 61%,” and the opening has subject–verb agreement problems: “The bar graph elucidate” and “the table illustrate.” Tense and sentence construction also need attention in “the value … was 43% and 41%,” where the figures describe two different years. Punctuation spacing is inconsistent, with spaces before full stops and missing spaces after some punctuation. Practise complete subject–verb–object patterns and use past-tense reporting verbs consistently; this will help you express the comparisons more accurately.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.