Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-18

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 provided pie charts illustrates the proportion of visitors who visited to Ashdown museum after and before it refurbished . Overall, it is crystal clear that there were highest proportion of people who were satisfied after year of refurbished of museum as compared with other reasons . Looking at the year before refurbishment of museum where total numbers of visitors were accounted for 74000 and 40% of individuals were dissatisfied by visiting , followed by 30% were satisfied by it . Interestingly , people who were very satisfied and very dissatisfied were similar . whereas, 5% of visitors were had no response to visit museum . Turning to second pie chart where total number of visitors visit after a year to Ashdown museum was noted at 92000. however, the proportion of visitors around 40% were satisfied and 15% were dissatisfied . while , no response and very satisfied were reported at 5 % respectively . nearly half percentage were very satisfied after refurbishment year visiting museum .

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the data, such as the total visitor numbers and the shifts in satisfaction levels. However, the response lacks clarity in some areas. For instance, you mention '40% of individuals were dissatisfied' in the first year, but the data labels are slightly misread or confusingly presented. Additionally, the comparison between the two years is somewhat disjointed. To improve, ensure you clearly contrast the key changes (e.g., the increase in total visitors and the shift from dissatisfaction to satisfaction) rather than just listing the figures for each chart separately. The overview is present but could be more analytical.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Turning to second pie chart' and 'while , no response' show a lack of control over linking words. The punctuation is also problematic, with inconsistent spacing and unnecessary commas (e.g., 'while , no response'). The flow of ideas is sometimes interrupted by these errors, making the progression feel a bit disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure your punctuation supports the logical flow of your sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. You frequently use basic verbs like 'visited' and 'noted'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'highest proportion of people who were satisfied after year of refurbished' and 'no response to visit museum'. To improve, try to use more specific academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a significant rise', or 'the majority of respondents'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same terms throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with articles, verb tenses, and sentence structure. Examples include 'The provided pie charts illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'after year of refurbished' (missing articles and incorrect form), and 'total number of visitors visit after a year' (tense confusion). While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often marred by these errors, which can occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your score. Proofreading for small errors like missing articles ('the' museum) is essential.

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

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