Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-06

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 6.5)

The table compares the number of visitors to Ashdown Museum in the year before and the year after it was refurbished, while the pie charts illustrate the proportion of visitor satisfaction during the same two periods.

Overall, it is clear that both the number of visitors and the level of visitor satisfaction increased following the refurbishment. In contrast, the proportions of dissatisfied and very dissatisfied visitors declined.

Looking at the table in more detail, the number of visitors stood at 74,000 before the refurbishment. This figure increased by 18,000 to reach 92,000 in the following year. Regarding visitor satisfaction, the proportion of satisfied visitors rose from 30% to 40%, while the percentage of those who were very satisfied more than doubled from 15% to 35%.

By contrast, negative responses became less common after the refurbishment. Before the changes, 40% of visitors were dissatisfied and 10% were very dissatisfied. These figures fell considerably to 15% and 5%, respectively, after the refurbishment. Meanwhile, the proportion of visitors who did not respond remained constant at 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. The data is accurately reported, and the comparison between the two periods is clear. You have provided a well-structured overview that highlights the key trends, and the supporting details are relevant and well-selected. To reach the highest band, you could further enhance the analysis by explicitly linking the rise in visitor numbers to the improved satisfaction ratings, providing a more cohesive narrative of the museum's success.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to specific data points in the table and then to the survey results. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Looking at the table in more detail', and 'By contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout. The flow is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'proportion of visitor satisfaction', 'more than doubled', and 'remained constant' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. While the range is sufficient, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increased' and 'decreased' would elevate the lexical profile further. Overall, the word choice is natural and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response shows a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the opening sentence which uses a subordinate clause. The accuracy is high, with no significant errors in punctuation or grammar. The use of comparative structures is particularly strong. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more passive voice constructions or participle clauses to describe the data, which would demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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