Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-02
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 illustration gives information about the number of visitors and their satisfaction levels before and after the refurbishment. Overall, after refurbishment the total number of visitors to Ashdown Museum increased along with their satisfaction level.
it is quite evident from the table that before refurbishment the Ashdown Museum had around 74000 visitors. However after refurbishment, this number increased to 92000.
Meanwhile, before refurbishment the Ashdown Museum had 40% of the visited that were the satisfied with the services. However, after refurbishment more than 75% of the visitors were either very satisfied or satisfied with the visit. Very few people were dissatisfied with the services. And one more interesting thing about that is 5% people were very dissatisfied before the refurbishment and after the refinishment. This has been the same without any type of change. And also the 40% of the people were satisfied before the refurbishment and after the 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 response covers the main features of the prompt by presenting the visitor numbers and survey results, but the information is only partially developed. While the overview accurately notes the general increase in both visitors and satisfaction, the description of the survey data contains inaccuracies and lacks precision. For instance, the student incorrectly states that 40% of visitors were satisfied before and after, missing the actual distribution of categories like 'dissatisfied' and 'very dissatisfied'. Ideas are limited and mechanically presented, which keeps the response at this level. To move up, the writer needs to select and report data more accurately without misinterpreting the specific breakdown of survey percentages.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
There is some organisation in the text, beginning with a brief introduction and an overview, followed by body details. However, there is no clear overall progression or logical flow between the table data and the survey charts. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of "However" and "before refurbishment" or "after the refurbishment". Paragraphing is also somewhat fragmented, with a very short second paragraph. To improve Coherence and Cohesion, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive ties to link sentences smoothly and group related data into well-developed paragraphs that guide the reader logically through the trends.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic figures and trends. However, the range is limited and contains noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate word choices, such as "visited" instead of "visitors", and "refinishment" instead of "refurbishment". There is also unnecessary repetition of phrases like "before the refurbishment and after the refurbishment". To achieve a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate a broader range of vocabulary, use less common lexical items accurately, and eliminate spelling and word-form errors that detract from the precision of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The text displays a limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few attempts at complex forms. Frequent errors are present, including punctuation and capitalisation mistakes at the beginning of sentences (e.g., "it is quite evident"), missing articles, and awkward phrasing such as "the satisfied with the services". These errors can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. To reach the next level, the writer must incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures with greater accuracy, ensuring better control over verb forms, prepositions, and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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