Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-31

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 8.5)

The table compares the five highest-ranked small companies in Britain according to a staff survey conducted by a national newspaper. It provides information about staff numbers, gender ratio, age profile, staff turnover and the proportion of employees in the high-income bracket.

Overall, the companies differed considerably in terms of workforce composition and salaries. The fifth-ranked company had the largest number of employees, while the first-ranked company had the lowest staff turnover. In addition, the third-ranked company had the highest proportion of well-paid staff.

In terms of workforce size, the companies employed between 56 and 190 people. The fifth-ranked company had the largest workforce 190 employees, whereas the first-ranked company had only 56 staff. Regarding gender, the fourth company was heavily male-dominated, with a 13/87 female-to-male ratio, while the second company had the highest proportion of women at 47/53.

As for age, the fifth company had the youngest workforce, with 93% of employees under 35 and none over 55. By contrast, the fourth company had the oldest workforce, with only 26% under 35 and 8% over 55. Finally, staff turnover was lowest in the first company 5% but highest in the fifth 33%. The proportion of staff in the high-income bracket peaked at 74% in the third company, compared with just 2% in the fifth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses the prompt by summarizing the key data from the table. You have successfully identified the main features, such as workforce size, gender ratios, age profiles, and staff turnover, while making relevant comparisons between the five companies. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the trends. All parts of the task are covered well, and the data is used accurately to support your points. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant contrasts rather than listing data points, though your current approach is already quite strong and analytical.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'By contrast', and 'Regarding' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the different companies is clearly established throughout the text, making it easy for the reader to follow the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms like 'workforce composition', 'heavily male-dominated', and 'high-income bracket'. The language is precise and fits the context of the task well. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication. To move toward a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated synonyms or varied ways of describing statistical changes, but the current range is sufficient to convey your points clearly and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'The fifth-ranked company had the largest number of employees, while the first-ranked company had the lowest staff turnover.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentences are well-constructed. There are very few errors, and those present do not interfere with meaning. The use of comparative structures is particularly strong, which is essential for this type of task. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of control.

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