Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-16

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 6.0)

The given chart illustrates five small companies situated in Britain by a national newspaper which are best to work for based on data such as staff numbers, male:female ratio, under 35s / over 55s, staff turnover and high income bracket of staff respectively.

From an overall standpoint, it is readily apparent that fifth company leads in terms of staff members, under 35s and also holds highest amount of staff turnover compared to all the other listed companies. First company has the least amount of staff members along with the lowest staff turnover.

Third offers highest income bracket followed by the second company.

In terms of totality, we can state that the highest amount of males were reported in the third company by 74:26 whilst, maximum female ratio is reported in the fourth company by 13:87. In comparision of staff turnover fifth company holds the highest percentage by 33% followed by 18% recorded in the second company.

Overall, proper balance is recorded in second company as the male female ratio is ideal 47:53 and under 55s employees are 1% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all key features of the data, including staff numbers, ratios, and turnover. However, the presentation is somewhat mechanical, listing data points rather than synthesising them into a cohesive analytical report. The overview is present but lacks a clear focus on the most significant trends, such as the contrast between the largest and smallest companies. While the task is addressed, the analysis of the 'high income bracket' is underdeveloped, and the interpretation of the 'under 55s' data is confusingly phrased. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping data points more logically to highlight trends rather than simply listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. While some linking words like 'whilst' and 'followed by' are used, the transition between ideas feels disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'fifth company' or 'first company' without definite articles. The paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by better grouping of related data points to ensure a smoother flow of information throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There is a reliance on basic descriptors like 'highest amount' and 'lowest amount'. Some phrasing is unnatural, such as 'In terms of totality' and 'proper balance is recorded'. The use of '13:87' to describe a ratio is clear, but the surrounding text lacks the lexical sophistication to describe trends effectively. To improve, incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', or 'predominant', to describe the data more professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'fifth company' instead of 'the fifth company') and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'under 55s employees are 1% respectively'). The use of punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence construction is often repetitive. While the meaning is usually clear, the lack of consistent control over articles and prepositions prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.

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.