Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-28

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 6.5)

The table illustrates information about the frequency of visits made to the Ashdown Museum, for the years before and after refurbishment. The chart displays the level of satisfaction expressed by visitors, for the same two periods.

Before refurbishment, 74,000 people had come to the museum. A significant portion of the visitors, that is, 40% of the visitors were dissatisfied with the experience, and 10% were extremely unhappy. However, 30% were feeling content, while 15% were very satisfied with it. Some people refused to respond.

Later, after renovations were made, the numbers rose considerably, attracting a larger crowd of 92,000 visitors. The level of dissatisfaction fell sharply to 15%, while, on the other hand, the number of visitors expressing a higher level of satisfaction rocketed from 15% to 35%, and those feeling content, went from 30% to 40%. the

To conclude, after refurbishment, the Ashdown Museum became successful, and received numerous positive responses from the visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting both the visitor figures and the survey results for the two periods. The response includes an overall summary and accurate comparisons, noting the increase in visitor numbers from 74,000 to 92,000 alongside the shifts in satisfaction levels (for instance, pointing out that dissatisfaction fell sharply to 15%). The key features of the visual data are correctly identified and contrasted, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7 performance under Task Achievement. All data points mentioned are accurate and grounded in the provided source text.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organized logically with a clear introduction, well-defined body paragraphs handling the data chronologically, and a brief concluding overview. Cohesive devices such as 'Before refurbishment', 'However', 'Later, after renovations were made', and 'on the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data points and establish comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately, though there is an isolated dangling word ('the') left at the end of the third paragraph which disrupts the flow slightly. Overall, the organizational structure is clear and progression is maintained.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Words and phrases such as 'significant portion', 'dissatisfied', 'rose considerably', and 'rocketed' show a good attempt at lexical variety and precision when describing trends and survey results. While there are a few slightly informal phrasing choices such as 'extremely unhappy', the vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the information effectively. There are no major spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, placing this securely in the Band 7 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'A significant portion of the visitors, that is, 40% of the visitors were dissatisfied...'). There is good control over tense usage when shifting between the past visitor figures and survey percentages. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with frequent error-free sentences, though minor awkwardness exists in phrasing like 'were feeling content' instead of 'felt content'. Punctuation is mostly accurate, despite the minor editing artifact at the end of the third paragraph.

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