Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-08

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 5.5)

The table presents information about the five small firms in Britain that came top in one survey of staff conducted by a national newspaper to find out which companies are the best to work for.

Overall, it is evident that staff numbers is recorded highest for 5th company and male:female ratio is more balanced among all organizations. The staff turnover is very low in 1st company, while 5th has the highest. Staff in high income bracket is the highest for 1st firm.

Turning to the first three position in survey, staff numbers for 1st and 2nd stood at 56 and 79, respectively. For 3rd it accounted for 72. Male:female ratio recorded 30:70 ratio for 1st, compared with 47:53 ratio for 2nd. Meanwhile, 3rd constitued 74:26. Moreover, for under 35s/ over 55s 3rd position in survey noted 82% and zero, respectively. Furthermore, 1st accounted for 77% for under 35s and 0 for over 55s. Staff turnover stood at 5% for 1st, 18% for 2nd and 8% for 3rd. Staff in high salary bracket is the highest for 3rd reaching 74%.

As for the remaining categories, 4th and 5th survey recorded for 76 and 190, respectively. The male:female ratio is the lowest for 4th position reaching 13.87, while it is more balanced for 5th at 51:49. For over 55s,5th firm accounted for 0%, but for under 35s stood at 93%. Lastly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several relevant features, including the largest workforce and highest turnover at the fifth-ranked company, and the low turnover at the first-ranked firm. However, the overview contains a significant misreading: the most balanced male:female ratio is at the fifth company (51:49), not across all organizations, and the highest share in the high-income bracket belongs to the third company (74%), not the first. Some important comparisons are also missing, particularly the contrast in age profiles and income levels across the five firms. The final paragraph is incomplete, ending with “Lastly,” and the fourth company’s turnover and income figures are not reported. Select the main contrasts accurately and complete the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and phrases such as “Turning to” and “As for” help signal shifts. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the first body paragraph groups the first three companies but gives uneven coverage, while the second paragraph omits several key details and ends abruptly with “Lastly.” Some linking words, including “Moreover” and “Furthermore,” connect details without showing a clear comparison, so the writing can feel like a list. Organise the body around meaningful comparisons—for example, workforce and age patterns, then turnover and income—and ensure each paragraph reaches a complete conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “staff turnover,” “male:female ratio,” “accounted for” and “stood at,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language. However, some choices are inaccurate or repetitive: “staff numbers is recorded highest” is awkward, “high salary bracket” does not match the table’s “high income bracket,” and “13.87” misrepresents the fourth company’s ratio of 13:87. “Constitued” is misspelled, and repeated use of “accounted for” limits flexibility. Use precise terms for the data and vary reporting verbs carefully; this would make comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and several sentences communicate figures clearly, such as “Staff turnover stood at 5% for 1st, 18% for 2nd and 8% for 3rd.” However, grammatical control is uneven. The opening overview has a subject–verb agreement error in “staff numbers is recorded,” and “For 3rd it accounted for 72” has an unclear subject and awkward construction. Articles and ordinal forms are often missing, as in “for 1st” and “Turning to the first three position.” Punctuation also disrupts the ending: “Lastly.” is a fragment, and there is no space after the comma in “over 55s,5th.” Use complete sentences, check agreement and articles, and proofread punctuation.

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