Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-31

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 5.5)

The table illustrates the a survey of staff in Britain which is conducted by a national newspaper in order to find out which businesses are the best for the employee.

Overall, the company which secured 1st rank, has the lowest staff numbers and it has the maximum female employee. The company which has secured fifth position, has the highest working staff members with minimum staff in high income bracket.

1st position was secured by the company which has the 56 total staff with male and female ratio 30:70. It has 77% workers whose age is below 35. It has 34% of a staff who has high income. On the other hand, company which has secured 5th place, It has the largest staff number of 190 and it has the least number of employee who has high income level. This business has the maximum staff turnover

Followed by, Company which has secured second position has the highest employee which was 79. 3rd position was secured by the industry who has the highest pay bracket of 74%. It have 82% of employees whose age is under 35. and it have 74% male and 26% female workers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the table, such as the highest and lowest staff numbers and income brackets. However, the report is somewhat inconsistent in its coverage. While you highlight the first and fifth companies, the details for the second and third companies are less integrated, and you miss the fourth company entirely. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are presented with equal clarity and that comparisons are made more explicitly across all five entities rather than listing them in isolation. The overview is functional but could be more comprehensive by synthesising the data trends more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'The company which has secured...'. Transitions between sentences are sometimes abrupt, and the use of 'Followed by' at the start of the final paragraph is grammatically awkward and does not effectively link the ideas. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would significantly enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information about staff numbers, income brackets, and gender ratios. However, there is a lack of variety, and some word choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as 'industry' to refer to a company and 'maximum female employee' instead of 'highest proportion of female employees'. There are also minor errors in collocation. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'majority', or 'minority', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'It have 82%'), article usage (e.g., 'the a survey'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'the company which secured 1st rank'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and refining your use of articles and relative clauses to ensure greater accuracy in your complex sentences.

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

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