Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-08

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 shows data of staff conducted by a national newspaper of five small companies in Britain to find that which top in for work.

Overall, the companies which take 1st place have low number of staff members than all however the companies at last have most numbers of staff and the remaining three are almost same.

Initially, the company which dominate the table have the lowest staff members which is 56 with 30 males and 70 females all of these are under 35 years with 5% of turnover and 34% of income bracket. However the company at last have largest number of member which is 190 and it is most of male company with 33% turnover and 2% of income bracket and they all are under 35 years.

Secondly the companies at 2,3,4 are almost same the second one have 79 members and the females are 51% with 18% turnover and 48% income bracket. The third one is a male based company with 72 total members 8% of turnover and 74% income bracket. Moreover the company at fourth is female based company with 13% turnover and 5% income bracket.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have identified the main features of the table, such as the staff numbers and the gender distribution. However, the response lacks precision in reporting the data. For example, you mention '30 males and 70 females' for the first company, but the table shows 30% and 70%. This misinterpretation of data significantly impacts the accuracy of your report. Additionally, the description of the companies at positions 2, 3, and 4 is vague, failing to clearly contrast the specific figures provided in the table. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe data and provide clear comparisons between all five companies rather than grouping them loosely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as using 'Initially' and 'Secondly' to describe a static table, which is not the most appropriate choice for this task. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly when moving between the companies. While there is an attempt to use linking words, the overall flow is hindered by the lack of clear, logical transitions between the specific data points you are comparing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic phrases like 'the company which' and 'the remaining three are almost same'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'most of male company' instead of 'male-dominated company' and 'data of staff conducted' which is grammatically awkward. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends and comparisons, such as 'proportion', 'predominantly', 'fluctuation', or 'statistically significant'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the response that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'have low number of staff members than all' (should be 'have a lower number of staff members than the others') and 'the company at last have largest number' (should be 'the last company has the largest number'). Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, and there is a lack of complex sentence structures. You rely heavily on simple sentences, which limits your ability to demonstrate control over a wider range of grammatical forms.

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