Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-03

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 5.5)

The table graph illustrates the five small companies in Britain that came first in a survey of workers conducted by a national newspaper to learn which companies are the best ones to work for.

Overall, companies' rankings decrease as the number of employees increases, however; companies rankings also increase as the staff in high income bracket increase.

1st, 3rd and 5th company don't have any staff that is over 55 years old and 2nd company only have 1% staff whose over 55 years old, however; 8% of the 4th company have them as employees. Staff number is 56 in the 1st company but the number of staff sharply increases at other companies.

There are 40 more female workers in the 1st company, 50 more males in the 3rd and 74 more females in the 4th company. Staff turnover rates increase steadily as the rankings decrease except it significantly decrease to 8% at 3rd company but rises 33% at 5th company.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have identified some key features of the data, such as the relationship between company ranking and staff size. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant trends. The description of the data is somewhat fragmented, and some comparisons are inaccurate or confusingly phrased, such as the mention of '40 more female workers' without clarifying the total context. To improve, ensure you group data logically rather than listing individual statistics, and focus on highlighting the most striking differences between the five companies. The summary needs to be more cohesive to fully meet the requirements of a Band 6 or higher.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression between sentences is often weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'however' and 'and'. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. Currently, the information feels like a list of observations rather than a well-integrated report, which limits the flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'staff number is' and 'sharply increases'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'staff in high income bracket increase'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data analysis, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', or 'predominance'. Additionally, ensure that your word choices are accurate in context to avoid ambiguity when describing numerical trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. For example, '2nd company only have 1% staff whose over 55 years old' contains errors in subject-verb agreement and relative clauses. You also use semicolons incorrectly before 'however'. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Reducing the frequency of these errors will significantly improve the readability and professional tone of your writing.

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