Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 survey illustrates the visitors experience before and after the refurbishment of the Museum.

Overall, the percentage of people visiting after the refurbishment were more satisfied than before it. Also the proportion of visitors falling in statisfied and very satisfied was increased significantly. In contrast, other factors shown a decreasing slop.

The number of visitors increased from 74000 to 92000 before and after refurbishment respectively. Satisfied and very satisfied shown an increased percentage from 30 to 40 and 15 to 35 respectively. On the other hand, dissatisfied people decreased to 15 from 40 percent and same as very dissatisfied from 10 to 5. The 5% given no response in both.

The refurbishment significantly increased not only the number of visitors but also the satisfaction level before and after during the same year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the data, including the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of the analysis. While the key trends are identified, the lack of sufficient length prevents a full development of the response. The comparison between the two periods is clear, but the report would benefit from more detailed descriptions of the data points to meet the task requirements fully. Because the response is under-length, it cannot reach a higher band for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas, moving from the general trend to specific data points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'In contrast' and 'On the other hand' are used correctly, but the overall flow is slightly disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'refurbishment', 'proportion', and 'significantly' used appropriately. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as 'decreasing slop' (likely meant 'slope' or 'trend') and 'given no response' (should be 'gave no response'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a marked rise'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('percentage... were', 'factors shown', 'satisfied and very satisfied shown') and tense inconsistencies. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. To improve, focus on ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that verb tenses are used consistently when describing past data. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will also help raise your score.

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

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