Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-22

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 table presents the data of 5 small companies of the UK, which topped in a staff survey. The survey was performed by a national newspaper for ranking the employers. At a glance, in every company there were a smaller of people aged over 55 than those aged under 35.

To begin with, the first organisation had 56 employees, in which 30% were males and 70% were females. The proportion of under 35-year-olds were just above three-quarters and no employees were over 55 years. The staff turnover was 5%, and 34% of employees were having higher incomes. The number of employees in 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies were nearly equal. However, 8% of employees from the 4th organisation were aged above 55 which was the highest as compared to others. Surprisingly, nearly a quarter of individuals working for 3rd organisation were receiving higher remuneration, the highest of the given companies. There were almost equal number of male and female staff in the fifth company, it was also having a larger workforce aged under 35. But staff turnover rates were higher for fifth organisation which was one-third.

In conclusion, a minority employees from 5th organisation receiving higher incomes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the table, such as the age demographics and staff turnover. However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you identify key data points, the comparison between companies is limited, and the conclusion is underdeveloped, failing to synthesize the information effectively. The statement 'a minority employees from 5th organisation receiving higher incomes' is grammatically incomplete and does not accurately reflect the data provided in the table. To improve, ensure that all comparisons are clearly linked to the data and that the summary provides a more comprehensive overview of the trends across all five companies.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'However', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final sentence where the subject is missing. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the connection between the data points could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'remuneration', 'proportion', and 'workforce'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'smaller of people' instead of 'smaller number of people' and 'higher incomes' used repeatedly. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied synonyms and ensuring that collocations are natural and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Examples include 'the proportion of under 35-year-olds were' (subject-verb agreement error), 'the number of employees in 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies were' (should be 'was'), and 'a minority employees' (missing preposition). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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