Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-18

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 provides information of survey conducted by national newspaper, which illustreate the result of five best small companies to work for.

3rd company was the best company in term of staff in high income bracket about 74%, followed by 2nd and 1st company with 48% and 34% respectively, while remaining two had very low number compared to other, around equal or less than 5%. In staff turnover, 5th comapny had higest numbers around 33% compare to other who had less than 15%, expect 2nd with 18%.

5th company had highest number of staff members, which were 190, whereas 2nd, 3rd, 4th had staff members in 70's and 1st company had lowest staff members consist of 56. In term of make to female ratio 1st and 4th were heavily dominated by the females staff, in contrast 3rd was dominated by male staff, while 2nd and 5th had relatively equal ratio of staff.

Overall, All five companies had different numbers, But 1st and 4th showed to be pro female and 3rd to be pro male comapanies in term of gender. In salaries 3rd and 2nd were power ahead compared to other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several important comparisons accurately: the third-ranked company has the highest share of high earners (74%), the fifth has the greatest staff turnover (33%) and workforce (190), and the first and fourth companies have strongly female-majority staff. These details show a relevant response to the table. However, the age figures are not discussed, and the overview is limited: the final paragraph repeats the gender and salary comparisons rather than summarising the main patterns across the data. Some comparisons are also imprecise, such as saying the remaining high-income figures are “around equal or less than 5%,” when the first and second companies have 34% and 48%. Include the age pattern and make the overview more comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable structure: it introduces the table, groups several comparisons in the middle paragraphs, and ends with an overall statement. Linking expressions such as “whereas,” “in contrast,” and “while” help show relationships between companies. However, the progression is not fully controlled. The final paragraph repeats points already made, and the overview appears after the detailed comparisons rather than clearly guiding them. Some references are also vague, as in “other who had less than 15%,” which makes the comparison less smooth. Organise the response into a clear introduction, a concise overview, and focused detail paragraphs, grouping related measures together and avoiding repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “staff turnover,” “high income bracket,” “dominated,” and “ratio.” This gives you a suitable foundation for reporting the table. However, several word-choice and spelling problems reduce precision, such as “best company in term of,” “higest numbers,” “make to female ratio,” and “power ahead.” Some expressions are also too informal or unclear for an academic report, including “pro female” and “numbers in 70’s.” Aim for accurate collocations and standard data-reporting language, such as “the highest proportion,” “staff numbers in the 70s,” and “a higher share of male employees.” Proofreading spelling and word forms would make your comparisons more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, using structures such as “whereas,” “while,” and “in contrast” to compare companies. The main information is usually understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “The table provides information of survey” needs an article and a different preposition, while “1st company had lowest staff members consist of 56” has problems with articles and sentence construction. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “Overall, All” and “But.” Work on accurate article use, complete sentence patterns, and agreement, and check punctuation when joining contrasting clauses. More consistently controlled complex sentences would improve clarity.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.