Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The table compares the different characteristics of the top five small companies in Britain.

Overall, the company ranked 5th had the highest number of staff members, while the top-ranked company had the lowest staff turnover. Company ranked third had the highest proportion of staff in the high salary bracket. Male-to-female ratio varied widely across all five companies. However, three companies had no staff aged 55 or above.

The highest number but f staff members was observed at 190 in the fifth ranked company, while the lowest number of staff was observed in the top ranked company. The highest male-to-female ratio was reported by the company which ranked fourth.Although the top most company had lowest staff turnover, the proportion of staff with high bracket salary was considerably lower than second and third ranked company. Only 2nd and fourth ranked companies had staff members aged 55 and above, by contrast there were no staff members of 55 or above in rest of the companies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all key features of the data, including staff numbers, turnover, salary brackets, gender ratios, and age demographics. You have successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons between the companies. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the specific company names or rankings to avoid ambiguity. For instance, when mentioning the 'fourth ranked company' regarding the male-to-female ratio, ensure the comparison is explicit. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the most significant information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a body paragraph that groups information effectively. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall,' 'However,' and 'by contrast,' to guide the reader. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'the rest of the companies') is precise. Paragraphing is used, but the structure could be more balanced; consider splitting the body paragraph into two distinct sections—one for staff characteristics and one for demographic/salary data—to enhance the logical progression of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion,' 'characteristics,' and 'demographics' appropriately. There are some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'top most company' (should be 'top-ranked company') and 'number but f staff' (a clear typo). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. Incorporating more varied collocations related to data reporting, such as 'a significant disparity' or 'a notable trend,' would elevate your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as missing articles ('in rest of the companies') and awkward phrasing ('by contrast there were no staff members of 55 or above'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some spacing issues and minor errors that slightly disrupt the flow. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice more effectively, would help demonstrate better control.

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