Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-24

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 given graph compares the positions achieved by five local companies in Britain in a staff survey conducted by national newspaper to declare which firms are best to work with.

Overall, company 5 employed had by far the largest workforce but also the highest turnover and lowest high earners. In contrast, the top three companies had younger staff and more employees in the high-income bracket.

Company 5 employed 190 staff, more than double the others (56-79). Gender balance varied widely, with company 4 having only 13% men, while company 3 had 74% men. Most companies had a very young workforce, with 77% to 93% under 35, except company 4 which had only 26%.

Turnover was lowest in company 1 (5%) and highest in company 5 (33%). Notably, the proportion of staff in the high-income bracket was highest in company 3 at 74%, while companies 4 and 5 had only 5% and 2% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively identifies the main features of the data, such as the workforce size, gender distribution, age demographics, turnover rates, and income brackets. You have successfully made relevant comparisons between the companies, particularly in the overview and the body paragraphs. The information is accurate and well-selected. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently link the data points back to the context of the survey (e.g., mentioning 'best to work for' criteria). Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the provided table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group related information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Notably', and 'while' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the different aspects of the data. The progression of ideas is clear throughout the text. To improve further, you could use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link sentences more fluidly, but the current structure is already quite effective and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, including terms like 'workforce', 'turnover', 'high-income bracket', and 'gender balance'. The word choices are generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'disparity', 'predominantly', or 'fluctuation', to demonstrate a more flexible and precise command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. For example, the use of comparative structures like 'more than double the others' and 'highest in company 3' is handled well. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. To improve, ensure that you maintain consistent subject-verb agreement and consider using a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as participial phrases or relative clauses, to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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