Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-16
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 shows the number of people who visited the museum before and after it was refurbished along with a pie charts that shows the satisfaction level of the visitors before and after it was refurbished.
There is a huge difference between the figures which were recorded before and the ones recorded after.Before refurbishment the number was 74,000 that increased upto 17,000 and reached up to 92,000 visitations after refurbishment.
Moreover, the results of the surveys conducted before and after refurbishment are also shocking. Before refurbishment only 15% people felt satified which turned to 35% after. Similarly, percentage od dissatisfied visitors changed from 45% before to 15% after.
Overall, in both cases, the satisfactory proportion is much bigger than the nonsatisfactory proportion which shows the positive impacts of refurbishment. Whereas, according to the survey, the percentage of visitors that gave no response remained the same before and 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 student covers the main features of the prompt, including the visitor numbers and survey data for both periods. However, there are some minor calculation and data interpretation errors. For instance, the writer states that the number 'increased upto 17,000 and reached up to 92,000', which is mathematically confusing (the increase was actually 18,000). Furthermore, the percentage for dissatisfied visitors before refurbishment is misstated as 45% (the chart shows 40% dissatisfied and 10% very dissatisfied, making total negative sentiment higher). Most importantly, the response falls just short of the 150-word minimum, containing 149 words, which results in a penalty under official task achievement guidelines. Band 5.5 reflects these minor inaccuracies and the length shortfall.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs detailing visitor numbers and survey results, and concluding with an overall summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Similarly', and 'Overall' are used to connect ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is adequate for a short task 1 response, though the separation of ideas could be smoother. There are minor issues with referencing, but the overall progression of information is clear and easy to follow. Band 6.0 is appropriate.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, with terms like 'refurbished', 'satisfaction level', and 'proportion'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'upto', 'satified', and 'od' instead of 'of'. The phrase 'satisfactory proportion is much bigger' is informal and less suited to an Academic Task 1 response. While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points, these inaccuracies restrict the score to Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('visitors that gave no response'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including 'along with a pie charts that shows' (plural/singular mismatch) and 'Before refurbishment the number was 74,000 that increased upto 17,000'. Punctuation is sometimes missing around introductory phrases or clauses. However, these errors do not impede overall communication. Band 6.0 is well-earned for a functional control of grammar despite frequent minor slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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