Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The table below shows the numbers of visitors to Ashdown Museum during the year before and the year after it was refurbished. The charts show the result of surveys asking visitors how satisfied they were with their visit, during the same two periods.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The tabulation illustrates the number of tourists at Ashdown Museum at the time of before and after, it was renovated; the pie chart indicates proportion of a survey via questioning travellers how they feel during the time of visit in same two years.
Overall. it is observed that, after the major changes dissatisfaction of visitors got reduced and vice-versa for satisfaction level.
To begin with, in the earlier time there were 74,000 vacationers who came to see the museum, but it was increased drastically to 92,000. In the case of different categories, the level of dissatisfaction in tourists was highest which was 40 percent and less than 10% of it were satisfied. Moreover, people who had very bad experience and give no comments as 10 and 5 percent respectively. The very happy sightseers were reported only 5%.
To contrast, afterwards when the refurbishment was completed the satisfaction level was rose by 10%; and dissatisfaction of guests decreased to 15 percent. The people who had no response and very dissatisfied showed the similar number and the individuals who were very satisfied was 35%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. However, the reporting of data is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the claim that 'less than 10% of it were satisfied' in the first period is not clearly supported by the visual data, and the description of the second period lacks precision regarding the specific categories. While the main trends are identified, the lack of clear, accurate data reporting prevents a higher score. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'To begin with' and 'To contrast'. Additionally, some sentences lack smooth transitions, making the flow feel a bit disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'level' and 'number'. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'very happy sightseers' and 'earlier time'. While the meaning is generally clear, the student struggles to use more academic or precise collocations to describe statistical trends. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied verbs and adjectives to describe changes, such as 'significant increase' or 'marked improvement' rather than relying on simpler phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'at the time of before and after, it was renovated' and 'the satisfaction level was rose by 10%'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and periods. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage is necessary to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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