Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-18

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 7.5)

The table and pie charts show the total number of visitors to Ashdown Museum and the results of surveys of visitor satisfaction before and after its refurbishment.

Overall, the number of visitors increased after the refurbishment. In addition, visitor satisfaction improved significantly, as the proportions of very satisfied and satisfied visitors increased, while dissatisfaction decreased.

Before the refurbishment, the museum received 74,000 visitors, compared with 92,000 in the following year. In terms of satisfaction, 40% of visitors were dissatisfied, making this the largest group. A further 10% were very dissatisfied. Meanwhile, 30% were satisfied and only 15% were very satisfied. The remaining 5% gave no response.

After the refurbishment, the percentage of very satisfied visitors rose considerably from 15% to 35%. The proportion of satisfied visitors also increased, from 30% to 40%. In contrast, the percentage of dissatisfied visitors fell from 40% to 15%, while very dissatisfied visitors decreased from 10% to 5%. The percentage giving no response remained unchanged at 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by covering both the visitor numbers table and the satisfaction survey charts. An appropriate and clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the main trend that both attendance and satisfaction increased following the refurbishment. Key features are accurately selected and reported, such as the increase in visitor numbers from 74,000 to 92,000, and the shift from dissatisfaction being dominant before refurbishment to satisfaction being dominant afterward. All figures cited match the source data precisely, and comparisons are made effectively throughout the response, fulfilling all requirements of the task achievement descriptor for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with a well-formulated introduction, followed by an overview paragraph, and then dedicated body paragraphs for the pre-refurbishment and post-refurbishment data respectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately and naturally to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Meanwhile', 'In terms of satisfaction', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the visual information. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to the overall smooth flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is appropriate and varied, demonstrating an adequate range for an Academic Task 1 response. The student successfully employs terms related to data reporting and description, such as 'proportions', 'considerably', 'decreased', and 'remained unchanged'. Word choices and collocations are accurate, and there are no spelling errors. While the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey precise meaning regarding percentages and trends, it relies mostly on standard descriptive language rather than more sophisticated or uncommon lexical items, which aligns well with a solid band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences used to make comparisons and report data (e.g., 'Before the refurbishment, the museum received 74,000 visitors, compared with 92,000 in the following year' and 'while very dissatisfied visitors decreased from 10% to 5%'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is well maintained throughout the text. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses are handled correctly to reflect past survey periods. The mix of simple and complex forms is managed effectively with strong overall accuracy.

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