Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustrates the value of one country's exports in different categories during 2015 and 2016. The table demonstrates the percentage of change in each category of exports in 2016 measured with 2015.

Overall, The Textiles and Engineering goods sector's had a significant growth in 2016, and Gems and jewellery category had declined in earnings from 2015 to 2016. Agriculture sector had a slight increase in earnings.

from the chart it is evident that in 2015 Textile indutry was having least Export earnings compare to other categorys, and it had a rapid rise of around 15.24% in earnings. Engineering goods had a constant rise of 8.5% in exports earning, while Gems and jewellery aector had a decline of 5.18% in earnings compare to previous year.

An analysis from the chart reveals that Petroleum products had a slight increase in earnings around 3%,and Agricultural products also had a minimal increase in earnings around 0.81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main direction of change: textiles and engineered goods rose, gems and jewellery fell, and agriculture changed very little. The percentage changes you report are consistent with the table, and you note that textiles began as the lowest-earning category. However, the overview is incomplete because it does not compare the overall ranking or mention that petroleum products remained the highest earner. The chart’s dollar values are also largely omitted, so the account relies on percentage changes rather than comparing export earnings across both years. The response is 146 words, below the required 150; add a little more relevant detail, such as the approximate values for the leading categories.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. This makes the main points reasonably easy to locate. However, progression is limited because the body paragraphs list categories and percentage changes without a clear grouping or comparison of their earnings in 2015 and 2016. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “from the chart,” and “An analysis from the chart” are repetitive or mechanical, and the lowercase starts after paragraph breaks weaken presentation. To improve, group the categories by their relative values or by the scale of change, and use concise links that show contrast or similarity—for example, contrast the fall in gems with the increases in the other categories.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “exports,” “earnings,” “percentage,” “decline,” and “increase,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “constant rise” for an increase between two years and “had a rapid rise of around 15.24% in earnings.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “indutry,” “categorys,” and “aector,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise chart language, such as “rose by,” “recorded the largest percentage increase,” and “export value,” and check spelling and capitalization carefully. Avoid repeating “earnings” when a clearer alternative is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You communicate the basic comparisons using both simple and more developed sentence forms, including “while Gems and jewellery … had a decline.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent. The overview contains the faulty possessive construction “the Textiles and Engineering goods sector’s had,” and “Gems and jewellery category had declined” is missing an article. Other issues include “in 2015 Textile industry was having” and the awkward comparison pattern “compare to other categorys.” Capitalization and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly the lowercase “from” at the start of a paragraph and the missing space after the comma in “3%,and.” Use straightforward past-tense forms such as “textile exports were the lowest” and check articles, agreement, and sentence punctuation.

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