Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13

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 and pie charts illustrate the number of visitors to Ashdown Museum and their levels of satisfaction in the years before and after its refurbishment.

Overall, total number of visitors are increased from 74,000 to 92,000 after the museum was refurbished. The satisfaction rate of the people also increases after it was refurbished.

Before refurbishment, 40% of the visitors were dissatisfied, making this the largest category. Meanwhile, 30% of the visitors was satisfied and 15% of the visitors were very satisfied. The rate of very dissatisfied visitors was about 10% and the 5% visitors did not respond.

In the year after refurbishment the rate of very satisfied visitors increased to 35%, and the number of satisfied peoples also rose to 40%. Dissatisfied people reduced to 15% and very dissatisfied people came to minor about 5%, following the same number of people who do not response. So overall quit good changes in the visitors are noted from the surveys after refurbishment,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the visitor numbers and satisfaction levels for both periods. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the increase in total visitors and the shift toward higher satisfaction ratings. However, the analysis is somewhat basic. To reach a higher band, you should aim to make more direct comparisons between the two periods rather than just listing the data for each year separately. For example, noting that the 'dissatisfied' category saw the most significant reduction (from 40% to 15%) would provide a more analytical summary of the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on the two time periods. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For instance, the transition 'In the year after refurbishment' is functional but basic. Additionally, the final sentence of the response is slightly disjointed and lacks a smooth connection to the preceding analysis. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main points clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'refurbished', 'satisfaction rate', and 'survey'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'peoples' (which should be 'people') and 'quit good' (which should be 'quite good'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited; using more precise synonyms for 'increased' or 'reduced' would demonstrate a stronger command of language and help you move into a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the precision of your writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('total number of visitors are increased' instead of 'the total number of visitors increased') and incorrect verb tenses ('the number of satisfied peoples also rose' is fine, but 'do not response' should be 'did not respond'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the final paragraph. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your score.

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

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