Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-14
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 table compares total number of visitors to Ashdown Museum during the year before refurbishment and the alyear after the refurbishment. Then the pie chart showing the result of survey of visitors satisfaction before the refurbishment and after one year of refurbishment.
Overall the numbers of visitors to Ashdown Museum increased after the refurbishment and the visitors who satisfied with refurbishment increased considerably. The proportion of satisfied visitors increased, while dissatisfaction decreased.
Before the refurbishment the Museum received 74000 visitors and after the refurbishment it was 92000 visitors. In a year the visitors increased in number significantly. Of these 40% dissatisfied and 40% satisfied in a whole year. Before the refurbishment 30% were satisfied and 10% increased after the refurbishment of Ashdown Museum. 5% of very dissatisfied visitors decreased after the refurbishment and the visible result of very satisfied visitors increased 20% while the no response remain the same 5% in both pie chart.
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 both the table and the pie charts, successfully highlighting the overall increase in visitor numbers and the shift in visitor satisfaction levels. Data is selected and reported, such as the initial and final visitor figures (74,000 and 92,000) and percentages related to satisfaction. However, some of the data comparisons are slightly confused or difficult to follow, such as the sentence stating 'Before the refurbishment 30% were satisfied and 10% increased after the refurbishment'. Despite minor mechanical reporting issues, all parts of the prompt are addressed, and relevant trends are outlined. This performance fits comfortably into Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement divided into a brief introduction, an overview paragraph, and a detailed body paragraph. Cohesive devices are attempted, such as 'Overall', 'Before the refurbishment', and 'after the refurbishment', though referencing and transitions are at times mechanical or slightly abrupt (e.g., 'Then the pie chart showing...'). Paragraphing is utilised adequately to separate the general trend from the specific details. However, logical progression within the final paragraph becomes a bit tangled, affecting overall cohesion. This aligns well with the descriptors for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'refurbishment', 'proportion', 'satisfied', and 'dissatisfied'. There are some awkward phrasings and word choice errors, such as 'the alyear after' and 'the visible result of very satisfied visitors increased 20%', which detract from precision. Less common vocabulary is attempted with occasional inaccuracies. While spelling is mostly acceptable aside from minor typos, the limitations in lexical control prevent the score from reaching Band 7.0. Therefore, a Band 6.0 is appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The text contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The table compares total number of visitors...' and 'The proportion of satisfied visitors increased, while dissatisfaction decreased.' However, there are several noticeable grammatical errors and missing articles, including 'compares total number', 'the pie chart showing' (fragment), and awkward phrasing like 'it was 92000 visitors'. Punctuation is generally functional. Because errors occur frequently but rarely impede overall communication, this performance meets the criteria for Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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