Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-12

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 demonstrates the data of five small companies that are mentioned in the newspaper in Britain. This explains the survey of staff in top five small companies and compares which one is the best option for a job. Overall, the fifth company has the highest number of staff while the first company has the lowest number of staff. However, this survey also told about the demographic information of staff, staff turnover, and position of staff in large salary bracket. To begin with, there was several positions in survey for five best small companies to work for. Firstly, the Britain newspaper talked about staff number which was only 56 for the first company; however, the number increased and reached 190 for the last company, showed the highest number. Although the ratio of male and female was 30:70, 47:53, 74:26, 13:87, and 51:49 for the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth company respectively. Regarding the age, these companies included staff under 35s or over 35s both ranges. These companies consist mostly members aged under 35s whereas in some companies a little percentage of individuals over 35s were also present. The staff turnover was lowest for the first company at 5% while it was highest for the fifth company at 33%. The third company had the largest ratio of staff in high income bracket which was 74% whereas the fifth company included only 2% of members in that range.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main categories in the table and give a useful overview of staff numbers, noting that the fifth company is largest and the first smallest. Several figures are reported accurately, including the male:female ratios, turnover extremes and the third company’s 74% high-income share. However, the age comparison is unclear and partly inaccurate: the table reports the proportion under 35 and over 55, not over 35, and the fourth company has 8% over-55s while the others have 0–1%. The overview could also identify the striking differences in age profile, turnover and income more directly. Select and compare these key features precisely, rather than describing the table’s categories in general terms.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, overview and two detail sections, and it generally moves from staff numbers and gender to age, turnover and income. This gives the reader an overall coherent route through the information. Some linking is mechanical, however: “To begin with” and “Regarding” announce topics without always making the comparisons clear, while “Although” introduces a sentence that is not completed as a contrast. The overview also repeats that the table concerns staff demographics and turnover rather than summarising the most important patterns. Group related comparisons more deliberately and use clear reference points, such as comparing the first and fifth companies or grouping the companies by age and income profile.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “staff turnover,” “demographic information,” “ratio” and “high income bracket,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, several imprecise or unnatural choices: “demonstrates the data” and “best option for a job” do not describe the table’s purpose accurately, while “large salary bracket” is not a natural collocation. The age wording “over 35s” also changes the category shown in the table, which is over 55s. Aim for precise reporting verbs and standard expressions for proportions and categories. This will make the comparisons sound more natural and reduce ambiguity without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and most of the information remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly with agreement and sentence construction. For example, “there was several positions” should use a plural verb, and “Although the ratio … respectively” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, so it needs a main clause or a different connector. In “the number increased and reached 190 … showed the highest number,” the final verb lacks a clear grammatical link to the preceding clause. There are also awkward article and plural patterns, such as “for the first company” repeated where “the first company” or “Company 1” would be clearer. Check each sentence for a complete clause and subject–verb agreement.

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