Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-19

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 4.5)

The given table illustrates information about the five best small companies to work for over the period from 1st to 5th.

Overall, it is clear that in the 1st position survey staff number is 56 and the 2nd 79. Furthermore, male and female ratio around 30:70 to 51:49.

Looking at the detail, staff number stood at 72,76 and 190, while under 35s/ over 55s was 77%/0 to 93%/0. After that, staff number in the 3rd postion is 72 and under category 82%/0.

Reagarding the remaining categories, staff turnover recorded 5%, 18% and 8%. In comparison, staff in high income bracket showed in 1st position 34% then increased to 2nd position 48% and the 3rd category more increased 74% finally 4th and 5th decrease 5% and 2%. Buy the end of the period, overall category shows information about the five best small companies to work for.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the table’s subject and include some relevant figures, such as the staff totals for the first two companies and the income-bracket percentages for the first three. However, the overview does not identify the main patterns: for example, the fifth-ranked company has the most staff and highest turnover, while the third has the largest high-income share. Several comparisons are incomplete or unclear, and the turnover figures for the fourth and fifth companies are omitted. The statement that the male:female ratios range from 30:70 to 51:49 is also inaccurate, since the third and fourth ratios are 74:26 and 13:87. The response is 129 words, below the 150-word minimum; the 16 words copied from the prompt are excluded from that count. Select the key contrasts and report them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has separate introductory, overview and detail paragraphs, and phrases such as “Overall,” “Looking at the detail” and “In comparison” show an attempt to guide the reader. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the details are grouped inconsistently: the second paragraph gives two staff totals and a broad ratio range, while the next repeats the third company’s figures. “After that” does not clearly signal a comparison, and the final sentence repeats the topic rather than concluding the summary. Organise the information into clear comparisons—for example, staff size and age profile together, then turnover and income—and use references that make each company’s position unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “staff turnover,” “high income bracket” and “under 35s/over 55s,” so the reader can recognise the categories being discussed. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “in the 1st position survey,” “the 3rd category more increased” and “by the end of the period.” The table compares ranked companies, not changes over time, so time-related wording gives the wrong impression. Spelling errors such as “Reagarding,” “postion” and “Buy” also reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “ranked first,” “the proportion rose” and “the fifth-placed company,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few different sentence forms, including an overview beginning “Overall, it is clear that…” and a comparison introduced by “In comparison.” However, sentence construction is often incomplete or awkward, which makes relationships between figures unclear. For example, “staff number in the 3rd postion is 72 and under category 82%/0” lacks a clear grammatical link between the two statistics, while “staff in high income bracket showed in 1st position 34%” has an unclear subject and word order. Articles and plural forms are also inconsistent, as in “staff number” and “the 3rd category.” Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use parallel structures when comparing companies.

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

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