Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-04

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 chart illustrates the value of one country's exports in certain categories during 2015 and 2016. Whereas the table describes the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.

Overall, it is noticeable that in the first chart petroleum products had highest export earnings and Textiles had the least earnings among all the other product category. However, if we have a close look at the table then it is noticeable that textiles had the highest percentage change whereas Agricultural products had the lowest change in values.

A glance at the chart represents that in 2015 petroleum products had 60 billions export earnings that rose to 62 billions in 2016. Then after Engineered goods had the second greatest export earnings that was around 57 billions in 2015 that hiked by 3 billions in 2016. Furthermore, Gems and jewellery had 42 billions in 2015 that declined to 40 billions in 2016. Whereas in Agricultural products had second last export earnings that 30 billions in 2015 that rose by 1 billions only.

Further analysis of the table revels that petroleum products had grow by 3% change in the value. whereas textiles had skyrocket to 15.24%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main extremes: petroleum products earned the most, textiles the least in 2015, and textiles had the largest percentage rise while agriculture had the smallest. Several figures and comparisons are also relevant. However, some data are inaccurate: petroleum is about $61 billion in 2015 and $63 billion in 2016, not 60 and 62; engineered goods rise from about 57 to 62, a $5 billion increase rather than $3 billion. You also say agriculture rose by $1 billion, although the chart shows only a small increase, and omit the textiles figures and the decline in gems from the overview. Covering the table more fully and checking comparisons would make the summary more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the chart and table. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is uneven because the final paragraph mentions only petroleum and textiles, leaving the table’s other changes unreported, while the chart paragraph moves through categories without a clear grouping or consistent comparison pattern. Some linking is awkward or repetitive, including “Whereas” at the start of separate sentences and “Then after.” Organise the details into clear comparisons—for example, increases together and the one decline separately—and use linking words only where they clarify the relationship between points.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “export earnings,” “percentage change,” “declined,” and “highest,” so the main information is generally understandable. There are also attempts at less common wording, such as “hiked” and “skyrocket,” but these are too informal or imprecise for an academic chart summary. Some expressions are unnatural, including “the chart represents” and “had grow by 3% change.” Repeated use of “noticeable” and “earnings” also limits variety. Prefer precise reporting language such as “stood at,” “increased by,” and “recorded the largest rise,” and use the category names consistently. These adjustments would make your vocabulary more accurate and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the opening contrast with “Whereas” and clauses describing changes between years. However, some sentence structures are incomplete or faulty: “Whereas the table describes…” is a dependent clause standing alone, and “Whereas in Agricultural products had…” has an unnecessary opening structure. There are also errors in verb forms and agreement, such as “petroleum products had grow” and “that rose by 1 billions,” as well as article and plural problems in “had highest export earnings” and “60 billions.” These errors sometimes make the relationships between figures less clear. Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check tense, articles, and singular/plural forms.

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