Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The table below gives information about the five small companies in Britain that came top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to find out which companies are the best to work for.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

THE FIVE BEST SMALL COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The table illustrate the characteristics of top ranked five companies to work for in Britain.

Overall, 5th ranked company had the highest staff members and staff turnover, while 1st ranked company had the lowest staff turnover among all. However, 3rd ranked company had the highest staff in high income bracket, while 5th ranked company had the lowest.

The 5th ranked company had 190 staff members, making it the highest figure, while the number of staff members of the other remaining 4 companies remained between 56-79. The 4th ranked company had 87% female staffs, representing the highest figure. Most workers (93%) of 5th ranked company were young generations (under 35s).

74% of all staff belonged to the high income bracket from 3rd ranked company, while only 2% accounted for the 5th ranked company. Staff turnover were highest in the 5th ranked company, at 33%, while only 5% for the 1st ranked company.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response identifies several important features accurately: the fifth-ranked company has the most employees (190) and the highest turnover (33%), the first has the lowest turnover (5%), and the third has the largest high-income share (74%), compared with 2% in fifth place. The overview also gives the reader a useful summary of these extremes. However, some comparisons are incomplete or imprecise. The statement that the fourth company has “87% female staffs” misreports the table: its female share is 87%, but the row gives a male:female ratio of 13:87. The response also omits the notable contrast in age profiles and the high-income figure for fourth place. Selecting and explaining a few more key comparisons would make the summary more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs of supporting details. Information is generally grouped sensibly, with staff numbers and demographic details followed by income and turnover. Basic linking words such as “while” and “However” help signal comparisons. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is somewhat list-like, and the final paragraph combines income and turnover without a clear organising focus. Some references, such as “the other remaining 4 companies,” are awkward and make the comparison less smooth. Grouping related data more deliberately and using a wider range of precise comparison links would improve cohesion and make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant vocabulary for describing a table, including “highest figure,” “staff turnover,” “high income bracket,” and “accounted for.” These choices communicate the main comparisons, and the language is generally appropriate to the task. However, several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, such as “top ranked five companies,” “staff members,” “female staffs,” and “young generations.” The repeated use of “company” and “ranked company” also limits flexibility. Aim for more natural collocations and concise terms, such as “the five highest-ranked companies,” “employees,” “female employees,” and “workers under 35.” More precise vocabulary would make the comparisons sound clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including comparison clauses with “while” and a participial phrase in “making it the highest figure.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. For example, “The table illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “Staff turnover were highest” should use a singular verb. Articles are also missing in phrases such as “5th ranked company” and “from 3rd ranked company.” The sentence “while only 5% for the 1st ranked company” is incomplete because it lacks a main verb. Check agreement, articles, and sentence completeness, while continuing to use varied structures; these corrections would make the writing more consistently accurate.

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