Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-08

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 table illustrates the total number of visitors to Ashdown Museum before and after its refurbishment. The pie charts demonstrates the results of visitors satisfaction surveys during the same period.

Overall, it is evident that Ashdown museum experiences the highest number of visitors after refurbishment, whereas the lowest number of visitors was recorded before the refurbishment. In addition, the results of the visitors satisfaction surveys represented the highest level of dissatisfaction before refurbishment, while after the refurbishment, they show the highest level of satisfaction

In detail, before refurbishment, the number of visitors to Ashdown Museum stood at 92,000. While, the results of visitor satisfaction surveys showed that 30% of visitors were satisfied, 40% were dissatisfied, 15% were very satisfied, 10% were very dissatisfied. The remaining 5% of visitors gave no response. After refurbishment, the number of visitors to Ashdown Museum increases to 92,000. However, the results of surveys reveal that 40% of visitors are satisfied, 35% are very satisfied, 15% are dissatisfied, 5% are very dissatisfied. The remaining 5% of visitors give no response.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data, including the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. However, there is a significant factual error in your report: you state that the number of visitors 'increases to 92,000' after refurbishment, whereas the table shows an increase to 155,000. This inaccuracy impacts the overall quality of your reporting. To improve, ensure you double-check data points before writing. You have provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant figures, but the misinterpretation of the final figure prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a detailed body paragraph. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'In detail' to guide the reader. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is slightly abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the paragraphing could be improved by separating the table data from the pie chart data to enhance readability. The flow of information is generally logical, but the mechanical nature of the linking words keeps this at a mid-range level.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'refurbishment', 'satisfaction surveys', and 'dissatisfaction'. There are some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'pie charts demonstrates' (should be 'demonstrate') and 'visitors satisfaction' (should be 'visitor satisfaction'). While you successfully convey the meaning, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' or 'show' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('pie charts demonstrates') and tense inconsistencies (switching between 'experiences' and 'stood'). Additionally, there is a punctuation error in the sentence 'While, the results of visitor satisfaction surveys...' where the comma after 'While' is unnecessary. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent tense usage and refining your control over complex sentence structures will help improve your accuracy.

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