Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The table illustrates the information about the five tiny firms in Britain that came top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper. Units are measured in numbers and percentages.

Overall, the quantity of staff members in 1st company is dramatically smaller than that of other companies, while in 5th company's staff is significantly higher. Furthermore in 3rd company's staff's income is higher than that of other remaining companies.

It can be seen that the quantity of staff members in 5th company is gradually higher at 190, whereas in 1st company there is only 56. Moreover the other remaining companies is 79 to 72 staff. The figure of Male and Female ratio in 4th company is lower at 13:87, whereas in 5th company is high at 51:49.

At the staff turnover, in 1th company is significantly lower at 5%, whereas in 5th company is higher to 33%. in contrast, the quantity of staff income in 5th is significantly lower to 2%, while the quantity in 3rd company is 74%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the table, such as staff numbers, gender ratios, turnover, and income. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the comparison of the 3rd company's income is mentioned, but the data is not clearly linked to the other companies to provide a comprehensive overview. The overview paragraph is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, focusing instead on specific data points. To improve, ensure that the 'main features' are clearly highlighted and that comparisons are made more explicitly across all categories provided in the table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'in 1th company' and 'in 5th company's staff's income' are repetitive and awkward. The logical progression between sentences is sometimes hindered by these grammatical issues, making the flow feel disjointed. While the information is grouped by category, the transition between these categories could be smoother. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise would significantly improve the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'quantity of staff members' instead of 'number of staff' and 'gradually higher' when describing static data. The use of '1th' instead of '1st' is a recurring error. While the student attempts to use terms like 'turnover' and 'ratio', the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive sentence structures that rely on basic vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect prepositions ('higher to 33%'), subject-verb agreement errors ('the quantity of staff members in 5th company is gradually higher'), and awkward phrasing ('in 5th company's staff is significantly higher'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small errors would be beneficial.

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