Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-05

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 tabular chart gives the information about the five small companies in England which are at their peak according to the survey in conducting employees by a national newspaper which highlights the best companies at their work. While the fifth company hires the maximum staff , the minimum ratio is in the high income bracket.

Interestingly, companies which are on the fifth rank illustrated a triple ratio in the staff conducting rather than the first company. whereas the rest of the companies showed similarity in the staff numbers. Moreover,33%of the staff turnover witnessed in the fifth company , 18% by the second company. Also, the third company illustrated the 74:26 ratio of the male and the female staff while the first company witnessed the half ratio.

In addition, there are 93%/0% and 82% /0% ratios accounted for in the employees who were under 35s/ over 55s by the fifth and the second company, respectively. Moreover, the minimum ratio of the staff in high income brackets showed in the fourth and the fifth company .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the table, such as staff numbers, turnover, gender ratios, and age demographics. However, the analysis is often confusing and lacks clarity. For instance, the phrase 'triple ratio in the staff conducting' is ambiguous and does not clearly describe the data. The comparison between companies is sometimes inaccurate or difficult to follow, such as the mention of 'half ratio' for the first company. While the key features are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that comparisons are explicitly linked to the specific figures provided in the table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. While some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'In addition' are used, they often feel mechanical or are used to connect loosely related points. The progression of information is not always logical, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five companies. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when comparing specific companies without naming them clearly in the context of the previous sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and occasionally imprecise. Phrases like 'staff conducting' and 'triple ratio' are not standard collocations for describing data and hinder clarity. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'witnessed' being used repeatedly in contexts where it does not fit naturally. While the student attempts to use specific terminology like 'staff turnover' and 'high income bracket', the overall range is restricted, and the errors in collocation occasionally impede the reader's understanding of the data being presented.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect article usage ('the fifth rank'), awkward sentence construction, and punctuation errors (e.g., 'Moreover,33%of'). The use of slashes for ratios (e.g., '93%/0%') is informal and grammatically problematic. While the meaning is generally discernible, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence structure prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and standard sentence formation is required.

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