Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02

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 given pie chart illustrates the results of a survey conducted to identify the satisfaction of visitors coming to Ashdown Museum. It compares the results from before and after the museum was refurbished.

The annual visitors to the museum was about seventy-four thousand while this number rose to ninety-two thousand after the museum was refurbished indicating a positive development in the performance of the museum.

prior to the refurbishment, about 40% of the visitors were 'dissatisfied' and about 30% were reportedly 'very dissatisfied'. In contrast, the results for the survey following the refurbishment indicated that the number of individuals dissatisfied had reduced to only 15%. and those who were 'very dissatisfied' to 5%. Earlier only 15% were very satisfied and 30% were satisfied but later up to 35% became very satisfied and 40% became satisfied. The number of individuals choosing not to respond however remain the same, both prior and after the refurbishment of the museum.

The overall data provided indicates that the refurbishment of the Ashdown Museum has positively impacted the experience of its visitors and hence has improved their levels of satisfaction.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the data, including the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with specific figures from the charts. To reach a higher band, ensure you integrate the data more fluidly; for instance, instead of listing percentages in a sequence, group them to highlight the contrast between the 'dissatisfied' categories and the 'satisfied' categories more effectively. You covered all parts of the task well, and your summary of the trends is accurate and relevant to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'Earlier/later' to guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the visitor numbers from the satisfaction survey results. To improve, ensure that your referencing is precise; for example, in the third paragraph, the phrase 'earlier only 15%' could be more explicitly linked to the 'before refurbishment' period to improve flow. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'refurbished', 'positively impacted', and 'performance'. There is an attempt to use varied reporting verbs and descriptive phrases. However, there are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'identify the satisfaction' (better: 'measure the level of satisfaction') and 'the number of individuals choosing not to respond... remain' (should be 'remained'). Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'The annual visitors to the museum was' (should be 'were') and 'both prior and after' (should be 'both prior to and after'). Additionally, there is a punctuation error in '15%. and those', where the period interrupts the sentence structure. Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent punctuation will help you move into a higher band.

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

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