Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

THE TABLE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT FIVE SMALL COMPANIES IN BRITAIN THAT WERE RANKED AS THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR, BASED ON A STAFF SURVEY. IT COMPARES THEM IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE, SIZE,GENDER AND AGE DISTRIBUTION, STAFF TURNOVER AND TE PROPORTION OF HIGH INCOME EMPLOYEES.

OVERALL, THE 5TH COMPANY HAD BY FAR THE LARGEST WORKFORCE AND THE HIGHEST STAFF TURNOVER, WHILE THE 1ST COMPANY HAD THE SMALLEST WORKFORCE AND THE LOWEST TURNOVER.THE 3RD COMPANY HAD THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF HIGH INCOME EMPLOYEES.

THE 1ST COMPANY EMPLOYED 56 PEOPLE,90%OF WHOM WERE WOMEN, WHILE THE FIGURES FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD COMPANIES WERE 59% AND 26% RESPECTIVELY. EMPLOYEES UNDERV 35 ACCOUNTED 77%, 92% AND 80% IN THESE COMPANIES. THEIR STAFF TURNOVER RATES WERE 5% , 18% AND 8%.

THE 4TH COMPANY HAD 76 EMPLOYEES, WHEREAS THE 5TH HAD 150. NOTABLY, 74% OF THE 4TH COMPANY STAFF WERE OVER 35, COMPARED WITH ONLY 3% IN THE FIFTH.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the table and makes relevant comparisons. You have successfully identified the extremes, such as the largest/smallest workforce and turnover rates. However, the report is somewhat incomplete as it fails to mention the 'proportion of high income employees' for the 4th and 5th companies, despite mentioning it in the introduction. Additionally, the data presentation is slightly uneven; while you provide specific figures for the first three companies, the 4th and 5th are treated more briefly. To reach a higher band, ensure that all categories mentioned in your introduction are consistently reported for all data points provided in the table.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from general trends to specific data points. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'notably', and 'compared with' to link information effectively. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, with the second body paragraph being significantly shorter than the first. Additionally, some transitions between sentences feel a bit mechanical. Improving the flow between the data points for the 4th and 5th companies would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'workforce', 'distribution', 'turnover', and 'proportion' correctly. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'TE' instead of 'THE' and 'UNDERV' instead of 'UNDER'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the variety and precision required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for 'had' or 'accounted for' and ensure that your spelling is accurate throughout the text to avoid distracting the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'accounted 77%' (missing 'for') and inconsistent punctuation, specifically missing spaces after commas (e.g., '56 PEOPLE,90%OF'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. You have a good grasp of comparative structures, but you should focus on proofreading for small mechanical errors and ensuring that prepositions are used correctly with verbs like 'account for'.

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