Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-09

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 pie charts demonstrates the numbers of tourists visits during the year before and year after it was rebuilt. The 74000 visitors visited Ashdown Museum the year before however during the year after overhaul they become 92000, there was a 20000 tourists hike after the revamp. The 40% of guests were disappointed however 30% of them were pleased before renewed. 15% of them were very happy except, 10% of them were just happy and 5% of them gave no response, neither they were happy nor were unhappy.

After renovate 40% of tourists were fulfilled along with 35% of them were thrilled. 15% of visitors were disappointed after renewal. 5% of them were displeased and 5% of them gave no response. This was the overall comparison year before renewal and year after renewal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features—the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels—the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have listed data points without effectively synthesizing the information or highlighting the most significant trends. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview of the data and extend your analysis by comparing the two periods more thoroughly. The under-length nature of the response prevents a full development of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is a logical approach. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'After renovate' is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. The progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed, as the sentences feel like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive report. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'in contrast,' 'subsequently,' 'whereas') to connect your sentences and ensure that your paragraphing clearly separates the visitor numbers from the satisfaction survey results.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'year before' and 'year after.' There are also issues with word forms, such as 'After renovate' instead of 'After the renovation' and 'displeased' used in a context where 'dissatisfied' would be more accurate. To improve, try to incorporate more varied terminology related to data description, such as 'witnessed a surge,' 'remained constant,' or 'a significant shift in sentiment.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The pie charts demonstrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'the year after overhaul they become 92000' (incorrect tense and structure), and 'neither they were happy nor were unhappy' (awkward phrasing). The range of sentence structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, focus on using more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and correct verb tenses when describing past data.

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

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