Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

The table presents information about the five highest-ranked small companies in Britain based on a national newspaper survey, including staff numbers, gender distribution, age profile, staff turnover, and the proportion of employees in the high-income bracket.

Overall, the fifth-ranked company employed by far the largest workforce, whereas the first-ranked company had the fewest employees. Most companies had a predominantly young workforce, while female employees outnumbered males in the majority of companies. In addition, the third-ranked company recorded the highest proportion of high-income staff, whereas the fifth-ranked company had both the highest staff turnover and the lowest percentage of high-income employees.

Regarding workforce size, the fifth-ranked company had 190 employees, considerably more than the other four companies, which employed between 56 and 79 staff. Women formed the majority of the workforce in the first, second and fourth companies, with female-to-male ratios of 70:30, 53:47 and 87:13, respectively. By contrast, the third company was male-dominated, while the fifth company had an almost equal gender balance (51:49).

In terms of age, the fifth company had the youngest workforce, with 93% of employees aged under 35, whereas only 26% of staff in the fourth company belonged to this age group. Staff turnover ranged from just 5% in the top-ranked company to 33% in the fifth-ranked firm. Furthermore, the third company had the largest proportion of employees in the high-income bracket (74%), while the corresponding figure for the fifth company was only 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified and reported the main features of the data, including significant trends and notable comparisons. The overview is clear and effectively synthesises the key information provided in the table. You have covered all categories (staff numbers, gender, age, turnover, and income) and supported your points with accurate data points, such as the 190 employees for the fifth-ranked company and the 74% high-income figure for the third-ranked company. The response is well-structured and fully addresses the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The information is logically sequenced, moving from a clear introduction and overview to detailed body paragraphs. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as workforce size and gender in the third paragraph, and age and income in the fourth. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'in addition', 'by contrast', and 'furthermore', which help the reader follow the progression of your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'predominantly young workforce', 'female-to-male ratios', and 'high-income bracket' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is well-suited to the task of describing statistical data. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language is sophisticated enough to convey the information clearly and concisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('including staff numbers...') and subordinate clauses ('whereas the first-ranked company had...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is accurate throughout. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, and the overall flow is natural and professional.

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