Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-02

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 5.0)

The table illustraes the information about five small companies in Britain that come top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to find which companies are best in work for.

Overall, the staff numbers who dominate by 56 with ratio of 30 males and 70 females almost both genders are below 55 years old and have 5% of turnover moreover with 34% of high income bracket got 1st position.

However at 2nd place we have 79 stuff number with 47 males and 53 females only 1% are over 55 years old and have 18% stuff turnover additionally have 48% of high income bracket. While at third theres 72 stuff number with 74 males and 26 females they all are below 55 years old with 8% of turnover and 74% high income bracket at four we got 76 stuff number with 13 males and 87 females while just 8% of them are over 55 years old and finally at last we have bigger stuff number which is 190 with 51 males and 49 females all of them are below 55 years old with 33% turnover.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers all five companies and identifies some key data points. However, the reporting is inconsistent and lacks a clear, analytical overview. The summary of the 'main features' is hindered by a lack of comparative analysis; instead, the report reads like a list of raw data points for each company. The overview provided in the second paragraph is confusing, as it attempts to combine disparate statistics (staff numbers, gender ratios, age, turnover, and income) into a single, hard-to-follow sentence. To improve, you should group the data logically (e.g., comparing staff size across all companies first, then comparing turnover or income) rather than describing each company in isolation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'additionally', and 'while', but they are often used mechanically or incorrectly, which disrupts the flow of information. For instance, the transition 'at four we got' is informal and lacks proper sentence structure. The referencing is also unclear at times, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five companies. Improving the use of linking phrases and ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of incorrect word choice, such as 'illustraes' (spelling error), 'stuff' instead of 'staff', and 'best in work for' instead of 'best places to work'. The phrasing is often unnatural, which limits the precision of your report. While you attempt to use some technical terms like 'turnover' and 'income bracket', the overall range is insufficient to convey the data clearly. You should focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends and comparisons, such as 'the highest proportion of', 'a significant contrast', or 'the lowest turnover rate'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('five small companies... that come top'), missing articles, and awkward sentence structures. Many sentences are run-on or lack necessary punctuation, making them difficult to parse. For example, 'the staff numbers who dominate by 56 with ratio of 30 males and 70 females' is grammatically incoherent. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and struggle to form complex sentences accurately. Focusing on basic sentence construction, correct verb tenses, and proper punctuation will help improve your accuracy.

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