Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-06

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 following table illustrates about the five best small companies in Britain to work for as follows:

This given table illustrates different aspects such as position in survey for staff members which are in the hightest numbers in the 5th company and and relatively least in the 1st company, We can also notice the significant compareable ratio of males and females where females are evidently in higher amounts in the 1st company and males are lowest in ratio in 3rd company.

Staff turnover rate is significantly high in the 5th company compared to all the others and the least percent is seen in the first company. Whereas 3rd company relatively over highest income bracket of 74% and least percent is noticed in the 5th company with 2%.

Overall, this statistical data intricately shows crucial data of all these 5 companies in different aspects and ratio.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some key features, the reporting is superficial. You mention the '5th company' and '1st company' but fail to provide specific data points or clear comparisons for all five companies. The overview is very brief and lacks a clear summary of the main trends. To improve, you must ensure you cover all parts of the prompt, provide specific data to support your claims, and ensure the response meets the minimum length requirement to avoid a penalty.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into short paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'company'. The connection between sentences is sometimes weak, making the flow feel stilted. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'consequently') to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic terms like 'illustrates', 'numbers', and 'amounts'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'significant compareable ratio' and 'over highest income bracket'. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', 'majority', or 'minority'. Avoid repeating the same words in close proximity and try to use more sophisticated descriptors to convey the information more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'illustrates about' is incorrect; it should simply be 'illustrates'. There are also issues with sentence structure, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph: '...1st company, We can also notice...'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word order and phrasing, such as 'relatively over highest income'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and punctuation. Incorporating more complex sentence structures would also help improve your score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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