Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-21

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 7.5)

The table compares the five highest-ranked small companies in Britain according to a survey of their staff. It provides information about the number of employees, gender ratio, age distribution, staff turnover and the proportion of employees in a high-income bracket.

Overall, the companies vary considerably in terms of their workforce and employee characteristics. The fifth-ranked company has by far the largest number of staff and the highest turnover rate, while the first-ranked company has the lowest turnover. The proportion of employees earning high incomes is greatest in the third-ranked company.

The number of employees ranges from just 56 in the first-ranked company to 190 in the fifth. Women make up the majority of staff in the first, second and fourth companies, with the fourth having the highest proportion at 87%. In contrast, the third company is predominantly male, at 74%, while the fifth has a relatively balanced gender distribution.

Most employees are under 35 in all five companies. The proportion is highest in the fifth company, at 93%, followed by the third at 82%. Regarding staff turnover, the figures range from 5% in the first company to 33% in the fifth. Finally, the third company has the largest proportion of high-income employees, at 74%, whereas the fifth has only 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main features and successfully integrated comparisons between the five companies. The data is accurately reported, and you have highlighted key differences, such as the contrast between the first and fifth companies regarding staff turnover and size. The information is well-selected, and the report is balanced, covering all categories provided in the table without omitting any significant trends. The inclusion of specific figures to support your observations demonstrates a strong grasp of the data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used an effective structure, starting with an introduction, followed by a summary of main trends, and then detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Regarding', and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the data, which enhances the overall readability. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the different data points is clearly articulated throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information precisely. Terms such as 'gender ratio', 'age distribution', 'staff turnover', and 'high-income bracket' are used accurately in the context of the task. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations could elevate the response further. However, the current range is more than adequate to communicate the data clearly and effectively without any noticeable errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The fifth-ranked company has by far the largest number of staff and the highest turnover rate, while the first-ranked company has the lowest turnover.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over sentence structure is consistent, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The use of comparative structures is particularly well-handled throughout the report.

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