Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-21

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 4.0)

The given table illustrates the value of te exports of a country in different categories between 2015 and 2016.

Overview: Overall the value of petroleum products, engineeredgoods, agriculture products and textiles had increased in 2016. While the proportion of the value of gems and jewellery had increased in 2015.

According tote table,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic and attempts an overview, noting increases in petroleum, engineered goods, agriculture and textiles. However, the overview misreports gems and jewellery: its value fell in 2016, rather than increasing in 2015, and it does not clearly summarise the main contrast between this decline and the rises elsewhere. The response ends with “According to the table,” without reporting any supporting figures or comparisons, so the task is addressed only minimally and key information is missing. It is also 98 words below the required minimum, which leaves too little space to select and explain the main features. Add accurate figures and comparisons, including the highest and lowest export values and the largest percentage change.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response with an opening sentence and an overview introduced by “Overall,” which gives the reader a starting point. However, the response does not develop beyond these fragments: “According to the table,” is left unfinished, and there is no body paragraph or logical progression through the categories. The connector “While” introduces a contrast but is not integrated into a complete, clearly related sentence. To improve, use a short introduction, a complete overview, and one or two paragraphs grouping the figures and comparisons. Ensure each linking expression connects complete ideas and that the response has a clear ending.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “value,” “categories,” “petroleum products,” and “gems and jewellery,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is very limited, and several phrases are inaccurate or awkward: “the proportion of the value” does not describe the change in export earnings, while “agriculture products” is less appropriate than the chart’s category label. There are also visible spelling or spacing problems, such as “te exports,” “tote table,” and “engineeredgoods.” Use precise terms such as “export earnings,” “rose,” “declined,” and “percentage change,” and check spelling and spacing carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response shows some control of basic sentence patterns, particularly in the opening sentence and the list of categories in the overview. However, the range is narrow, and the final phrase, “According to the table,” is an incomplete sentence. The clause beginning “While” is also not joined to a complete main clause, leaving the contrast grammatically unfinished. In addition, “the value of … had increased” uses a past perfect form without a clear earlier past reference; simple past (“increased”) is appropriate for comparing the two years. Practise writing complete sentences with accurate tense choices, and use a full clause after contrast markers such as “while.”

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