Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

The table summarizes data from a national newspaper survey identifying the five best small companies to work for in Britain, evaluated across various workforce metrics.

Overall, the surveyed companies are predominantly characterized by younger workforces, with the exception of the 4th-ranked business. Furthermore, there appears to be a clear inverse relationship between rank and company size, as lower-ranked firms generally employ more staff and experience higher employee turnover rates.

Regarding company scale and stability, the top-ranked company is the smallest, employing only 56 staff members, and boasts the highest retention with a remarkably low staff turnover of 5%. As we look down the rankings, staff numbers generally grow, culminating in the 5th-ranked company which is the largest by a wide margin with 190 employees. Concurrently, this company suffers from the highest instability, recording a substantial 33% staff turnover rate.

Demographically, gender and age splits show stark contrasts. The 4th-ranked company stands out significantly: it is overwhelmingly female (87%), has a much older workforce with 8% of staff over 55, and features the lowest proportion of workers under 35 (26%). Conversely, the 5th-ranked firm is almost evenly split by gender (51:49 male-to-female ratio) but is dominated by youth, with an overwhelming 93% of its workforce under the age of 35. The 3rd-ranked firm presents a completely opposite gender profile, being heavily male-dominated at 74%.

Financially, compensation models vary wildly between the organizations. The 3rd-ranked firm is by far the most lucrative for its workforce, placing a striking 74% of its employees in the high-income bracket. This stands in sharp opposition to the two lowest-ranked firms; only 5% of employees at the 4th-ranked company and a mere 2% at the 5th-ranked company earn high-bracket incomes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 9.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by accurately reporting the main features of the table and making relevant, precise comparisons across the five companies. The overview clearly highlights key trends, such as the relationship between rank, staff numbers, and turnover rates. Data points are accurately cited and integrated smoothly into the analysis, covering workforce size, gender ratios, age distribution, staff turnover, and high-income brackets without any notable omissions or factual errors. This performance easily satisfies the criteria for a top band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 9.0

The response exhibits a clear and logical organisation from start to finish. The introduction establishes the context, followed by a well-crafted overview paragraph. Body paragraphs are logically grouped by themes, moving from company scale and stability to demographic splits and financial compensation models. Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively, such as 'Furthermore', 'Regarding', and 'Conversely', ensuring seamless transitions between ideas and sentences. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.5

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range with very natural and sophisticated control. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the response, such as 'inverse relationship', 'retention', 'demographically', 'lucrative', and 'compensation models'. Word choice and collocations are accurate, and phrasing flows effortlessly. There are no noticeable errors in spelling, word formation, or word choice, reflecting a high level of lexical proficiency appropriate for Band 8.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 9.0

A wide variety of complex structures is employed with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and the writer demonstrates strong control over subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and comparative structures (e.g., 'As we look down the rankings, staff numbers generally grow, culminating in the 5th-ranked company...'). Punctuation is flawless, and any minor slips are entirely absent. The grammatical control effortlessly supports clear and precise communication.

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