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)
These pie charts and the table collectively demonstrate the total number of visitors to Ashdown Museum before and after the transformation and the change in the public's review after the transition.
year before the refurbishment shows how dissatisfied the public was because of the detrimental conditions of the museum: 40 out of 100 people were dissatisfied, but this significantly decreased after the refurbishment work to only 15. Not only that, the most dissatisfied were 10 before and 5 after, which shows a 100% decline; people who are not interested in giving a response remain the same before and after, with only 5 individuals.
Not everyone is dissatisfied; some were satisfied the year before, and the number is as high as 30 after refurbishment; it touched the mark of 40. Highly satisfied individiuals shows heighest growth, from 15 to 35 that is more than a 110% growth rate.
Satisfied individuals, no matter more or less, saw a dramatic increase after refurbishment there count increased from 45 to 75. The number of visitors also increased after reconstruction from 74000 to 92000, which shows a positive reaction after refurbishment.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the increase in visitor numbers and the shift in satisfaction levels. However, the analysis is somewhat disjointed. While you successfully identify the key trends, the presentation of the data is occasionally confusing, particularly when discussing the 'most dissatisfied' category. To improve, ensure that you clearly distinguish between the table data (visitor numbers) and the pie chart data (satisfaction percentages) in a more structured manner. The summary is accurate, but it lacks a clear overview or 'summary' sentence that synthesizes the relationship between the refurbishment and the improved visitor experience effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes weak. For example, the transition between discussing dissatisfaction and satisfaction is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often repetitive or slightly mechanical (e.g., 'Not only that', 'Not everyone is dissatisfied'). Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by grouping related data points more logically. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the progression of ideas feel a bit stilted rather than fluid.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'detrimental', 'transformation', and 'reconstruction'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'there count increased' (should be 'their count') and 'individiuals shows heighest growth' (spelling and subject-verb agreement errors). While you attempt to use more complex vocabulary, the execution is not always precise. To reach a higher band, focus on using collocations more accurately and ensuring that your spelling is consistent throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('individuals shows') and punctuation errors. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'Satisfied individuals, no matter more or less, saw a dramatic increase'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors like pluralization and verb agreement, and try to vary your sentence structure with more complex, error-free clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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