Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-13

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 provided data below illustrates information about the top five small companies in Britain in a survey of workers conducted by a national newspaper to discover which companies are the best to work for.

Overall, it is immediately apparent that the largest number of workers was in the fifth company, while fewer than 1/4 of the workers' number were in the first company. Additionally, the number of males in the forth company was quite less compared to other companies.

In the first company, the number of staff was 56 person. In addition, the ratio of male and female was 30:70. Compared to workers who were under 35s which accounted for 77%, there was no a worker who was over 55s. Second company had slightly more workers that the first one and the ratio of male and female was almost the same at 47:53.Thus, these was a small difference between them.

The staff in high income bracket registered the second highest proportion at 48%. The third company had fewer female wrokers. It recorded 74% of high income and became the highest figure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify some relevant features, including the largest workforce in fifth place, the first company’s 56 staff and 30:70 gender ratio, and the third company’s leading high-income share. However, the overview is incomplete and includes an unclear comparison: “fewer than 1/4 of the workers’ number” does not clearly state what is being compared. Much of the table is omitted, especially the fourth and fifth companies’ age, turnover and income figures, and the second company’s income figure is reported without enough context. The claim that the fourth company had relatively few men is supported by its 13:87 ratio, but this is not developed. Select the main contrasts across all five companies and report them accurately and clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview and paragraphs describing selected companies. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In addition” and “Compared to” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is limited: the discussion moves from the first and second companies to income figures and then the third, without a clear organising principle, and the fourth and fifth are not discussed. Some connections are unclear, as in “Thus, these was a small difference between them,” where the reference and intended comparison are difficult to follow. Grouping the companies by meaningful contrasts—such as workforce size, age and turnover, then income and gender—would make the report easier to follow. Use linking words only where the relationship between points is explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough task-related vocabulary to communicate several comparisons, including “ratio,” “proportion,” “high income bracket” and “highest figure.” There is some variation in phrasing, such as “registered” and “accounted for,” although the latter is awkward in “workers who were under 35s which accounted for 77%.” Several word-choice and spelling problems reduce precision: “forth” for “fourth,” “wrokers,” “number of workers’ number,” and “a worker who was over 55s.” Prefer concise, accurate expressions such as “the proportion of staff under 35” and “the workforce.” Also avoid repeating “company” where “ranked first/second” or “its staff” would be clearer. More precise collocations would help you describe the table naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a comparison beginning “Compared to workers who were under 35s…” and a subordinate clause in the opening sentence. However, errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “the number of staff was 56 person” has a singular/plural agreement problem, while “there was no a worker” uses an incorrect negative construction. In “Second company had slightly more workers that the first one,” the article and comparative structure are faulty; “these was” also shows subject–verb disagreement. Sentence boundaries and spacing need attention, as in “47:53.Thus”. Practise accurate articles, plurals, agreement and comparison structures, and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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