Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26

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 6.5)

The table presents data of five small companies which are small in size that emerged the leading in a survey conducted by a national newspaper to know which companies in Britain provide the best working environment.

Overall, 5th company recorded the highest staff numbers while the 1st company had the least number of staff. Moreover, it is clear that under 35s recorded the highest proportion compared to over 55s which had minimal proportion of workers in the workplace. Furthermore, the 3rd company had the highest proportion of staff in high income bracket while the 5th company had the least proportion of staff with a high income.

Starting with the first category, the 5th company led in the number of staff at 190 members while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th had their membership at 79, 72 and 76. The 1st company recorded the least number of members of 56. In the male female ratio category, Males were higher in 1st, 3rd and 5th companies while females were higher in 1st, 2nd and 4th companies.

In the third category, under 35s recorded significantly higher proportions, with the 5th company leading at 93% followed closely by 3rd company at 82%. The staff turnover in the 5th company was at 33% which was the highest while the 1st and 3rd company had the least proportions at 5% and 8%.

In the staff in high income bracket category, the 4th and 5th companies had the least proportion of 5% and 7% while whereas the 3rd company had the highest proportion of 74%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the data, including staff numbers, gender ratios, age demographics, turnover, and income brackets. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the 5th company's high staff count and the 3rd company's high-income proportion. However, the analysis is slightly mechanical, listing figures rather than synthesizing them into a more cohesive narrative. For instance, the gender ratio section contains a factual error or confusion, as you state males were higher in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th companies while females were higher in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th; this is contradictory and confusing. Overall, the task is addressed well, but more careful data interpretation is needed to ensure accuracy.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each focusing on a specific category of data. You use transition signals such as 'Starting with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, some of the cohesive devices feel a bit repetitive or mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking structures. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, which supports a clear overview of the information provided in the table.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'bracket', and 'turnover' correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'which are small in size that emerged the leading', which is slightly redundant and awkward. You also use 'membership' to refer to staff numbers, which is not the most precise collocation in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the 1st company had the least number of staff' (should be 'lowest') and 'while whereas the 3rd company' (a redundant conjunction error). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are occasional slips in sentence construction that slightly hinder the flow. While you attempt complex sentences, they are not always error-free. The grammar is generally clear and does not impede communication, but more consistent control over complex structures is needed for a higher score.

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