A modified exponential model was used to describe light-response curves of Nicotiana tabacum L. The accuracies of an exponential model, a nonrectangular hyperbola model, a rectangular hyperbola model, a modified rectangular hyperbola model and the modified exponential model were evaluated by Mean square error (MSE) and Mean absolute error (MAE). The tests MSE and MAE of the modified exponential model were the lowest among the five models. The light saturation point (LSP) obtained by the exponential model, the nonrectangular hyperbola model and the rectangular hyperbola model were much lower than the measured values, and the maximum net photosynthetic rates (Pmax) calculated from these models, were greater than the measured values. Pmax at LSP of 1,077 μmol m-2 s-1 calculated by the modified exponential model was 12.34 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, which was more accurate than the values obtained from the modified rectangular hyperbola model. The results show that the modified exponential model is superior to other models for describing light-response curves. and Z. Y. Chen ... [et al.].