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 chart compares export valuetion of a country among five different categories, whereas the table provides precise figure of growth from 2015 to 2016. The bar chart values are in billions and the table values are in percentages.

Overall, every category has faced a growth except gems and jewellary, and agricultural products gained a tiny fraction growth campared to all categories. The most stricking feature is that petroleum products and engineered goods are top two among all five categories.

It is clear that petrolium products topped the list with around 61 billion dollar value in 2015 and aound 62 billion dollar in 2016, though it gained only 3% growth with in a year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the chart and table, give an overview that most categories rose while gems and jewellery fell, and note that petroleum and engineered goods were the leading categories. These are relevant main features. However, the report is incomplete: it gives only a brief figure for petroleum products and does not describe the other categories or make meaningful comparisons across them. The claim that agricultural products had the smallest growth is accurate, but the overview could also highlight textiles’ strongest percentage increase and the fall in gems and jewellery. The response is 114 words, below the required 150, which contributes to the limited coverage. Develop the summary with key figures and comparisons for all major trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview beginning “Overall,” and a detail sentence. This makes the purpose of each part reasonably clear. However, the progression stops after one category, so the body does not develop into a complete comparison of the data. Linking is also limited, with “whereas,” “Overall,” and “though” doing most of the work. The final sentence’s contrast between the value and growth rate is understandable, but the report needs further sentences grouped by useful comparisons—for example, the two highest earners, followed by the lower categories and their changes. This would create a fuller, more logically connected account rather than a sequence that ends abruptly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “categories,” “growth,” “percentage,” and “topped the list,” and the reader can generally understand the intended meaning. However, several inaccurate or misspelled choices reduce precision: “export valuetion” is not the appropriate expression, “precise figure” is awkward for the table, and “stricking,” “petrolium,” and “jewellary” are misspelled. Phrases such as “gained a tiny fraction growth” are also unnatural and make the trend harder to interpret. Aim for accurate collocations such as “export earnings,” “percentage change,” and “recorded a slight increase.” A wider set of precise terms for rises, falls, and comparisons would help you describe the remaining categories clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both a compound sentence (“The bar chart compares …, whereas the table …”) and a more complex sentence beginning “though,” showing some variety beyond simple statements. The main relationships are usually understandable. However, there are recurring issues with articles, number, and sentence construction: “provides precise figure” needs an article or plural form, and “61 billion dollar value” requires a plural unit and a more natural grammatical pattern. The final sentence also combines several ideas in a way that is not fully controlled. Use straightforward, accurate structures to report each category, then add comparisons with clauses such as “while” or “whereas.” Check articles, plural nouns, and punctuation when editing.

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