Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15

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 6.5)

The table illustrates the number of tourists to Ashdown Museum during the year before and after it was renovated. Furthermore, the chart compares the results of surveys about their satisfaction level with their visit, before and after it was refurbished.

Overall, the number of tourists increased after the refurbishment of the museum. The dissatisfaction level of visitors drastically plunged after the refurbishment, whereas the proportion of people not giving any responses remains constant.

Regarding the museum before renovation, the total number of people who visited the Ashdown Museum was 74,000.

The number of tourists increased significantly, peaking at 92000 after refurbishment.

Furthermore, 40 percent of visitors expressed their dissatisfaction through the survey before maintenance, but it dropped considerably to only 15 percent afterwards. Although the very satisfied category increased from 15 percent to 35 percent after maintenance, the very dissatisfied group decreased considerably from 10 percent to 5 percent. The number of tourists who said they are satisfied after refurbishment of the museum rose from 30 percent to 40 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task, providing a clear overview and highlighting key data points from both the table and the charts. The main features, such as the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels, are identified. However, the report could be improved by more effectively integrating the data. For instance, the final paragraph lists percentages in a somewhat disjointed manner rather than grouping them logically to facilitate comparison. While the key trends are present, the analysis lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of how the refurbishment specifically influenced the shift in visitor sentiment across all categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the visitor numbers from the satisfaction survey results. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Regarding', and 'whereas' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the final paragraph suffers from a lack of smooth flow, as it reads more like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive analysis of the survey data. Overall, the structure is functional and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some successful attempts at using more precise language, such as 'drastically plunged', 'peaking at', and 'refurbishment'. However, there is some repetition of basic terms like 'number of tourists' and 'after refurbishment'. The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the variety and sophistication required for a higher band. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, but the lexical choices remain somewhat predictable and lack nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of 'Although the very satisfied category increased... the very dissatisfied group decreased' shows a good grasp of complex sentence construction. Punctuation is generally correct. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure that the phrasing of data comparisons is consistently fluid and error-free.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.