Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-27

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 compares the number of visitors to Ashdown Museum in the year before and the year after its refurbishment, while the pie charts show the results of surveys concerning visitors’ satisfaction during the two periods.

Overall, the museum attracted more visitors after the refurbishment, and visitor satisfaction improved considerably. The proportion of visitors who were satisfied or very satisfied increased, while dissatisfaction decreased.

Before the refurbishment, the museum received 74,000 visitors. This figure rose to 92,000 in the following year, an increase of 18,000, or approximately 24%.

Regarding visitor satisfaction, 40% of visitors were dissatisfied before the refurbishment, making this the largest category. A further 10% were very dissatisfied. In contrast, 30% were satisfied and 15% were very satisfied, while 5% gave no response.

After the refurbishment, the percentage of very satisfied visitors increased substantially from 15% to 35%, while the proportion who were satisfied rose from 30% to 40%. Thus, the combined percentage of satisfied and very satisfied visitors increased from 45% to 75%. Meanwhile, the proportion of dissatisfied visitors fell from 40% to 15%, and those who were very dissatisfied 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 covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and effectively reporting the main features of both the table and the charts. The data cited is accurate and closely matches the reference material, such as noting the rise in visitor numbers from 74,000 to 92,000 and accurately tracking the shifts in visitor satisfaction categories (e.g., combined satisfied categories rising from 45% to 75%). Key comparisons between the year before and after refurbishment are clearly made, and there are no omissions or unsupported claims. This fulfills the requirements for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. It starts with an effective introductory paragraph paraphrasing the prompt, followed by a clear overview paragraph. Body paragraphs are logically structured, separating the visitor number data from the survey satisfaction results, and then detailing the post-refurbishment data. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'In contrast', and 'Meanwhile' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons without mechanical overuse. Paragraphing is used appropriately.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to an academic task 1 response. Phrases such as 'attracted more visitors', 'proportion of visitors', and 'remained unchanged' are used accurately. Less common vocabulary items and phrases are attempted, such as 'considerable', 'substantially', and 'largest category', showing good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and participial phrases smoothly (e.g., 'while the pie charts show the results...', 'making this the largest category'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Minor slips are absent, and complex structures are handled accurately, supporting clear and precise communication.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.