Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-03

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 the five small companies in Britain that came to the top in a survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to find out which companies are best to work for.

Overall, it is evident that in the majority of companies, the percentage of staff above the age of 55 is very low, a key feature is that in the 5th company, although the number of staff members is the highest, it seems that the number of staff turnover is also the highest. On the contrary, the 1st company has the fewest staff members but also the lowest percentage of staff turnover. Lastly, the male:female ratio greatly varies between different companies.

Firstly, when looking at the data for all companies, it is noticeable that in 3 of the 5 companies, the percentage of employees who are over the age of 55 is 0%, while in the 2nd it is 1% and in the 4th it is 8%. Furthermore, a key feature in the 5th company is that, with 190 staff members, it represents the highest number of staff, yet, at 33%, it also represents the highest percentage of staff turnover. On the contrary, the 1st company represents the lowest number of staff members - 56 - and the lowest percentage of staff turnover - 5%.

Another key feature in the table is that in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th companies, the male:female ratio shows a higher number in females, while in the 3rd and 5th companies, the male:female ratio represents a lower higher number in males.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers all five companies presented in the table and attempts to select main features, such as staff numbers and turnover rates. However, some parts of the task are handled more fully than others, and certain ideas remain slightly under-developed. For instance, the overview mentions the low percentage of staff above 55 and touches on the 5th company, but it misses a broader summary of other key aspects like the high income bracket distribution. Furthermore, some data points are repetitive or overly focused on individual details rather than broader comparisons across the categories. To reach a higher level, the response needs to present a more fully developed overview that highlights the most striking global trends and integrates the data points more effectively into cohesive comparative arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement, with a clear attempt to structure the answer into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body paragraphs detailing specific features of the companies. Information is generally organized logically, and the progression of ideas is fairly clear. However, cohesion can sometimes feel mechanical or slightly repetitive, particularly with transitional phrases like 'Firstly' and 'Another key feature', and some sentences feel awkwardly bolted together, such as the run-on structure in the second paragraph starting with 'a key feature is that in the 5th company...'. Referencing is mostly clear, but paragraphing could be managed with greater precision to separate distinct categories of data more effectively. To achieve a higher score, the student should ensure smoother transitions between ideas and avoid mechanical listing patterns.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic concepts such as 'percentage', 'staff turnover', and 'male:female ratio'. The student attempts less common vocabulary items like 'greatly varies' and 'highest percentage', though there are some slight inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'came to the top' instead of 'came top' or 'ranked first'. Spelling and word-form errors are minimal and do not impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the descriptions easily. To bridge the gap to higher bands, the writer needs to incorporate a wider and more flexible range of less common lexical items with precise control over academic collocations and phrasing, avoiding direct repetition of terms from the prompt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at relative clauses and comparative structures, such as 'while in the 3rd and 5th companies, the male:female ratio represents a lower higher number in males'. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including awkward phrasing and a contradictory lexical slip like 'lower higher number', but these errors are infrequent and rarely impede overall communication. Control over basic structures is generally sound, though complex sentences can occasionally be slightly faulty or convoluted. To improve further, the writer should aim for a higher proportion of error-free complex sentences and refine punctuation to ensure seamless readability throughout the response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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