Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-19

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 shows data collected in a survey conducted by a national newspaper about the best small companies to work for in Britain.

Overall, it shows information about the five small companies in Britain that came top following the survey based on total staff numbers, male and female ratio, age, staff turnover as well as staff's high income bracket.

The illustration reveals that the company outstands has a smaller number of staff and lowest staff turnover among the all five companies. While the company that ranked at the fifth position has more staff members with the highest staff turnover, which indicates that these are the two main factors that are mainly responsible for the companies' positions. In addition, the companies positioned at third, fourth, and fifth have average 70+ staff members with a greater female population in the 2nd and 4th ranked company, while more male in the 3rd ranked company. Noticeably, all companies have a majority of staff under the age of 35. Moreover, the company came on the third position has the highest staff income bracket and the fifth one has the lowest percentage of high income bracket.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table, such as staff numbers, turnover, and age demographics. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, you mention that the top-ranked company has the lowest turnover, but you do not provide specific data points from the table to support this claim. Furthermore, the description of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th companies is a bit muddled, and the comparison between them lacks precision. To reach a higher band, ensure you select key data points to illustrate your comparisons rather than making broad, descriptive statements. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'In addition,' and 'Moreover.' However, some of the transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing. For instance, the sentence 'The illustration reveals that the company outstands has a smaller number of staff' is grammatically disjointed, which affects the logical progression of the argument. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence connects smoothly to the next will help improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographics,' 'turnover,' and 'income bracket.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations. For example, 'the company outstands' is incorrect; 'the company that stands out' or 'the leading company' would be more appropriate. Additionally, 'the company came on the third position' should be 'the company in third position.' While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the company outstands has a smaller number,' 'the company that ranked at the fifth position has more staff members with the highest staff turnover,' and 'the company came on the third position.' These errors involve issues with verb forms, prepositions, and relative clauses. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional usage will be beneficial.

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