Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-24

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 and table illustrate that the value of a nations exports in various categories between 2015 and 2016, as well as the proportion change in products category of exports from 2015 to 2016.

Overall, the export earning of petroleum products was the highest, whereas textiles were the lowest. However the performance of product category textiles were largest proportion and agricultural products was lower in the both year.

the petroleum products had the highest approximately 61 $ billion and slightly increase 63 $ billion. Following this, Engineered goods rose about at 58 $ billion and 61$ billion in both 2015 and 2016 respectively. After that, Gems and jewellery was at 43 $ billion and 41 $ billion. Nonetheless, the textiles were at 26 $ billion and 32$ billion. Finally, Agricultural products stood at 32 $ billion.

Turning to the table, the percentage of textiles was the highest accounted for 15.24%, whereas Engineered goods was 8.5%. Followed by gems and jewellery, was at 5.18% and petroleum products made up at 3%. Finnaly, Agricultural products was at 0.81%, which was the lowst proportion in both years.

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 pattern: petroleum products earned the most, while textiles had the largest percentage increase and agricultural products the smallest. You also report several key figures, including petroleum at about $61 billion and $63 billion, and the decline in gems and jewellery. However, some details are incomplete or unclear: agricultural exports are given only as a single figure, although the chart shows values for both years, and the overview’s claim that textiles were the lowest applies only to 2015, not 2016, when they matched agricultural products at about $31.5 billion. The percentage change for gems is also described as a proportion without clearly stating that it was a decrease. More precise coverage of these comparisons would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to chart details and then the table. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. You also use sequencing expressions such as “Following this,” “After that,” and “Turning to the table.” However, the list-like sequence of categories does not always make the most useful comparisons clear, and some linking is mechanical. For example, “Finally, Agricultural products stood at 32 $ billion” appears after textiles, but does not report both years or connect the figure to the earlier overview. Paragraphing and clearer grouping of increases, decreases, and percentage changes would make the progression more effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “export earning,” “percentage,” “rose,” “stood at,” and “highest,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, such as “illustrate” and “accounted for.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “proportion change in products category,” “performance of product category,” and “made up at 3%.” Spelling errors such as “Finnaly” and “lowst” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “percentage change in export values” and “accounted for 3%,” and check spelling and singular/plural forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “whereas” and a sentence beginning “Turning to the table.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. The opening clause, “illustrate that the value of a nations exports,” has an incorrect possessive and an awkward clause structure; “the performance … were” also has subject–verb disagreement. Articles and sentence openings are inconsistent, as in “the petroleum products” and the lowercase “the petroleum products” after the overview. Punctuation and spacing around figures are uneven. Practise accurate noun phrases, agreement, and complete sentence construction; these corrections would make your range easier to follow.

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

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