Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-25

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 given table data compares the five best small companies to work for in Britain that came top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper.

The company which is on 1st position has staff number of 56 with male to female ratio of 30:70 whereas if compared the company on the 5th position has about 190 employee's with male to female ratio 51:49.The high income bracket working in companies are higher in company 1st which comprises of 34% of total staff has turnover of only 5% however, lower in company at 5th position only 2% with staff turnover 33%. Other companies the one of 2nd has 48%of staff in high income bracket with turnover to 18%, 3rd with the highest staff in high income bracket 74% has turnover to almost 8% and 4th which has high income bracket staff only 5% has turnover of 13%.

if we compare the proportion of people under 35s/over 55s company 5th has the maximum number of people under 35s which is approximately 93% where as company 4th has the highest number of people over 55's close to 8%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the data and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all five companies and highlighted key differences in staff numbers, gender ratios, income brackets, and turnover rates. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary paragraph that synthesizes the most significant trends, which is a requirement for a high band score in Task 1. Additionally, some data points are presented in a list-like fashion, which hinders the analytical flow. To improve, ensure you group the data logically rather than describing each company sequentially, and always include a clear summary of the most striking trends observed in the table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between sentences often relies on simple conjunctions or lacks smooth linking phrases. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the comparison between companies becomes slightly cluttered. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more fluidly, and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information, using terms like 'proportion', 'turnover', and 'bracket' appropriately. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'staff number of 56' (should be 'a staff size of 56') and 'high income bracket working in companies are higher' (which is grammatically awkward). There is also a lack of more sophisticated or varied vocabulary to describe trends and comparisons. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and varied synonyms to describe numerical changes and proportions.

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 the flow of reading. Examples include 'employee's' (incorrect pluralization), 'turnover to 18%' (missing preposition), and 'the one of 2nd' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around percentages and commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement, correct plural forms, and consistent punctuation to improve your accuracy.

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

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