Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-12
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 given table depicts the total number of visitors to visit the ashdown museum before and after the year of it was refurbished.
it can clearly seen that, the total number of visitors increased, and it became most popular museum after refurbishment with a clear satisfaction levels. negative responses fell sharply.
looking at the table, the total number of visitors rose from 74,000 before refurbishment to 92,000 after refurbishment. this is an increase of 18,000 people.
the two pie charts illustrates the satisfaction levels. before refurbishment only 15% of people are very satisfied and 30% satisfied. however after refurbishment a large group, 40% of people dissatisfied, and 10% were very dissatisfied.
after refurbishment, the results improved a lot. the percentage of very satisfied visitors more than doubled to 35%. the satisfied group also grew to 40%. at the same time, negative feedback was drooped. only 15% were dissatisfied and just 5% very dissatisfied compared to 40% and 10% before. the no response figure stayed the same at 5% for both years
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
You have successfully identified the main trends in both the visitor numbers and the satisfaction levels. You provided clear data points for the increase in visitors and correctly highlighted the shift in satisfaction categories. However, there is a significant error in your analysis of the pie charts: you stated that '40% of people dissatisfied' before refurbishment, but the data actually shows 40% were 'satisfied' and 15% were 'very satisfied'. This misinterpretation of the data negatively impacts the accuracy of your summary. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels with the corresponding segments in the charts before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from the table data to the pie charts. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, and the lack of capitalization at the start of sentences makes the text feel disjointed. While the overall progression is clear, the lack of sophisticated linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') limits the flow. Improving the variety of transition signals and ensuring consistent punctuation would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, such as 'rose', 'sharply', and 'doubled'. However, there are instances of inaccurate word choice, such as 'drooped' instead of 'dropped' or 'decreased'. Additionally, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise collocations and avoid basic errors in word form. For example, instead of saying 'results improved a lot', you could use 'satisfaction levels saw a marked improvement'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
Your writing contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation. Specifically, you have neglected to capitalize the first letter of sentences and proper nouns like 'Ashdown Museum'. There are also errors in subject-verb agreement and tense usage, such as 'the two pie charts illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'before refurbishment only 15% of people are' (should be 'were'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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