Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The bar graph and pie chart depict the number of tourists to Ashdown Museum and the satisfaction rating respectively, before the renovation and after the renovation.

Overall, the number of visitors increased significantly from the year before refurbishment to the year after the refurbishment from 74,000 to 92,000. It is apparent that their mission was successful with rising the number of tourists by approximately 18,000.

As we can see, the survey of visitor satisfaction clearly illustrates the sharp dip of disappointed people by 40% to 15%, less than half, and the soar of satisfied visitors from 30% to 40%. But the major change was noted by the visitors who were very satisfied from 15% to the exponential growth of 35%.

Then the very dissatisfied attendees diminished from 10% to 5% after the Museum was refurbished, while the people with no response (5%) remained constant before and after of the project. It is evident that the visitors are not just satisfied but were very satisfied with changes and liked the new things leaving their negative review behind.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response effectively covers the main features of the data. You have successfully identified the increase in visitor numbers and highlighted the significant shifts in satisfaction levels, particularly the rise in 'very satisfied' visitors. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the trends. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with precision. For instance, you mention a 'sharp dip' in disappointed people by 40% to 15%, but the data shows a change from 40% to 15%, which is a decrease of 25 percentage points, not 40%. Accuracy in interpreting data is crucial for this task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information thematically. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'As we can see', and 'while' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the data (e.g., visitor numbers in one, satisfaction in another). The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the final sentences could be smoother to avoid a repetitive structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information, including terms like 'refurbishment', 'exponential growth', and 'diminished'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is positive. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'rising the number' is incorrect; it should be 'increasing the number'. Additionally, 'exponential growth' is used to describe a change from 15% to 35%, which is an exaggeration in a mathematical context. Focusing on more precise collocations will help improve your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used some complex forms, such as 'while the people with no response remained constant', which shows good control. However, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'before and after of the project' (should be 'before and after the project') and 'the visitors are not just satisfied but were very satisfied' (tense inconsistency). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of error-free complex structures will be beneficial.

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

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