Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-18

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 highest-ranked small companies in Britain, based on a survey conducted to determine which organizations were the best to work for. It compares the companies in terms of staff turnover and the proportion of employees in the high-income bracket.

Overall, the fifth ranked company had by far the largest workforce and the highest proportion of employees aged under 35, while the third-ranked company had the greatest percentage of staff in the high-income bracket. In contrast, the fourth company had the highest proportion of female employees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 91 words long. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the introduction and the overview are clear and identify some main features, the response lacks the necessary detail and data comparison required for a full summary of the provided table. To achieve a higher band, you must expand your analysis by including more specific data points from the table and ensuring that all categories (such as staff turnover or specific company names) are discussed in greater depth to provide a comprehensive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction and an overview paragraph. It uses cohesive devices such as 'Overall' and 'In contrast' to signal shifts in the narrative. However, because the response is significantly underdeveloped, the progression of ideas is limited. The paragraphing is appropriate for the length provided, but the lack of body paragraphs to detail the data makes the overall structure feel incomplete. To improve, ensure you group information logically into distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is accurate and appropriate for the task, such as 'highest-ranked', 'proportion', and 'workforce'. However, the range of vocabulary is limited due to the brevity of the text. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations that would demonstrate a higher level of control. To improve, try to incorporate more varied descriptive language to compare the data, such as using terms like 'a significant majority', 'a marginal difference', or 'the most substantial proportion' to add precision to your reporting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammar is generally accurate, and the sentences are well-constructed with no major errors that impede communication. You have successfully used complex sentence structures, such as 'The table provides information about... based on a survey conducted to determine...'. However, the limited length of the response restricts the range of grammatical structures displayed. To reach a higher band, you should aim to demonstrate a wider variety of complex sentence forms, including passive voice and conditional structures, while maintaining the high level of accuracy shown in your current writing.

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

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