Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-28

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 7.0)

The table shows result from a national newspaper survey of the five best small companies to work for in Britain, comparing staff numbers, gender ratio, age profile, turnover, and income levels.

Company size varies widely, from 56 staff at top tanked company to 190 at the fifth. Gender balance also differs sharply, women predominate in three companies, while the fourth ranked company is heavily male at 13:87.

Younger staff dominate most companies, with under-35s exceeding three-quarters of the workforce in four cases, peaking at 93% in fifth place. The forth ranked company uniquely has notable 55 staff(8%) while three companies report none.

Staff turnover ranges from a low 5% at the top company to 33% at the bottom ranked one, suggesting weaker retention lower down the list. High income staff proportion vary independently of rank, highest at third place(74%) and lowest at fifth(2%).

Overall, no single factor determines ranking, the top company combines low turnover with a small young team, but not the highest pay.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all categories (size, gender, age, turnover, and income) and included a clear overview. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more specific data points for all comparisons. For example, when mentioning that gender balance differs, you could explicitly contrast the female-dominated companies with the male-dominated one using specific percentages. Additionally, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned 55 staff for the fourth company, but the table indicates 55 is the number of staff aged 55+, not the total staff count. Precision in data interpretation is crucial for Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the data. You use a clear introduction and a summary overview at the end. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'though', and 'overall' are used effectively to link ideas. To improve, try to vary your transitions further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For example, instead of starting sentences with 'Younger staff...' or 'Staff turnover...', you could use more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the paragraphs more fluidly, ensuring the progression of information feels natural rather than list-like.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'gender balance', 'workforce', and 'retention' are used appropriately. However, there are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'top tanked' (should be 'top-ranked') and 'forth' (should be 'fourth'). To achieve a higher band, incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid minor spelling errors. Using more varied descriptors for trends, such as 'predominantly female' or 'a significant disparity', would enhance the sophistication of your writing and demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'shows result' (should be 'shows the results') and 'proportion vary' (should be 'proportions vary'). Additionally, the sentence 'The forth ranked company uniquely has notable 55 staff(8%)' is slightly awkward in its construction. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your punctuation around parentheses is consistent. While these errors do not impede communication, reducing their frequency will help you move into the higher band categories.

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