Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The table provides information about the five small companies in Britain that came top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to identify which companies are the best to work for.

Overall, the survey i conducted in 5 categories which are staff numbers, male and female ratio, staff which under 35 year and over 55 years, staff turnover percentage and staff with high income bracket.

Fifth company has 190 staff which makes it highest in staff number while first company have 56 staff which make it lowest compared to other companies on the list. In male female ratio second and fifth company have the most balance ratio while fourth company has the least balance ratio.

Comparing the staff age first, third and fifth companies have zero staffs which are above 55 years of age. In staff turn over metric second and third companies have less than 10 percent staff turnover. And staff with highest income bracket are found second and third company with third company having the highest number of 74 percentage.

Best companies to work for out of 5 depends on individual need and comfort.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response identifies the main features of the table, such as staff numbers and age demographics. However, the reporting is inconsistent. While you mention the highest and lowest staff numbers, the comparisons for other categories are vague. For instance, stating the second and fifth companies have the 'most balance ratio' lacks specific data support from the table. Furthermore, the final sentence is an opinion rather than a summary of the data, which is not required for Task 1. To improve, ensure all key data points are clearly compared using accurate figures rather than general descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. You rely on simple transitions like 'In male female ratio' and 'Comparing the staff age', which feel repetitive. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and some sentences lack logical connection to the previous ones. For example, the transition to the final sentence is abrupt and does not follow from the data analysis. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'conversely', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help create a smoother progression of ideas throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You frequently repeat words like 'company', 'staff', and 'number'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'most balance ratio' instead of 'most balanced ratio' and 'staff turnover metric' which could be phrased more naturally. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of synonyms and more precise terminology to describe trends and data, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'fluctuation', or 'demographic'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'first company have' instead of 'has') and missing articles (e.g., 'in 5 categories' instead of 'in five categories'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar—such as pluralization and verb tense—prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.