Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-26

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 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.

Overall, staff numbers increased from one position to fifth position and male and female ratio is also rose up. Another thing is staff in high pakage has fallen in fifth position.

The staff numbers are 56 at 1st and then rose 190 at the 5th position. The ratio between male and female is increased which is 56 from 1st position to 5th position which is 190.The age group under 35 years are 77% at the 1st position and over 55 years old is 0 at the 1st position. At the 5th position young people is 93% and old people is 0.

At the position 1st staff turnover is 5% which rose upto 33% at the level of 5th. The staff in high pakage is 34% at the 1st position and dramatically fallen at 5th position which is 2%.

Overall, results change from 1st position to 5th position in all companies which is staff mumbers increased over the period and high pakage staff decreased through postion to position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The student attempts to summarise the table, providing an overview and mentioning various data points such as staff numbers, ages, and turnover. However, there are significant misinterpretations and inaccurate reporting of the data. For instance, the student states that staff numbers 'increased from one position to fifth position' and incorrectly claims that the male-to-female ratio and age demographics follow a uniform directional trend from 1st to 5th. Furthermore, the table presents data for five separate companies ranked 1st through 5th in a survey, not chronological progression or stages for a single company over time. Treating the table as a timeline significantly limits the task response. While some figures are cited correctly, the overall failure to accurately interpret the nature of the data restricts the score to a Band 4.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is divided into paragraphs, including a brief introduction and conclusion, but the overall logical progression is flawed due to the misinterpretation of the data source as a timeline. Cohesive devices are minimal and often repetitive, with phrases like 'at the 1st position' and 'at 5th position' overused to link sentences. Paragraphing is attempted, but because the underlying structure treats the separate companies as sequential time periods, the organisational flow is confusing and mechanical. Referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the intended comparisons between the companies. Overall coherence aligns with Band 5.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, heavily relying on terms provided directly in the prompt such as 'staff numbers', 'position', and 'survey'. There are notable spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, including 'pakage' instead of 'package', 'mumbers' instead of 'numbers', and inaccurate collocations like 'male and female ratio is also rose up'. The range of vocabulary is limited and minimally adequate for conveying simple information, but noticeable lexical errors cause occasional difficulty and miscommunication for the reader. This performance fits the Band 5.0 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mainly of simple sentences and faulty attempts at complex clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as 'male and female ratio is also rose up' and 'staff turnover is 5% which rose upto 33%'. Punctuation is basic, and awkward phrasing such as 'young people is 93% and old people is 0' further detracts from accuracy. These persistent errors frequently cause strain for the reader, matching the standard for a Band 5.0.

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