Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-15
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 summarizes a data of five companies , 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th that emerged the best in a survey of staff in Britain, done by a national newspaper to know which companies are best to work for.
Overall, under 35 recorded the highest percentage of data in all the five companies compared to over 55. The 5th company, has a huge population among the 5 companies.
Out of 5,the 5th has a biggest population adding up to 190, however the staff in high income bracket is unproportional since it's only 2%. Compared to other companies, it's the least while 3rd is the best at 74%. Nevertheless, nearly all the staff is under 35 just like the 1st and 3rd company but a small percentage of 2nd and 4th are way above 55years.
The 3rd company has a population of 74staff, considerably , it has the largest ratio of female slightly above the average, followed by the 5th and and 2nd who has a margin of 4. Staff turnover is poor , all recorded below average the 5th leading at 33% and 1st closing at 5%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features, such as the age distribution and the high staff count of the 5th company. However, the reporting is inconsistent and lacks precision. For example, the statement 'the 5th company has a huge population' is vague, and the comparison of 'high income bracket' percentages is confusingly phrased. While the key data points are mentioned, the analysis is not fully developed, and some comparisons are difficult to follow due to unclear referencing. To improve, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the specific companies and that comparisons are made using accurate terminology.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hampered by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. For instance, the transition 'Nevertheless, nearly all the staff is under 35' does not clearly connect to the previous sentence about income brackets. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanical or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'the 5th' and 'the 3rd' without clear noun phrases. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five companies effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and occasionally imprecise. Phrases like 'a data of five companies' and 'a huge population' are not ideal for a formal report. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'unproportional' (disproportionate) and 'closing at 5%' (ending at/recording). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of variety and the presence of collocation errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Using more precise academic vocabulary related to statistics and trends would significantly enhance the quality of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the 5th company, has', 'the 2nd who has'), missing articles, and awkward punctuation (e.g., 'Out of 5,the 5th'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally cause the reader to pause, though they do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, consistent use of articles, and ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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