Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-07

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 given table illustrate the numbers of visitors to Ashdown Museum during the year before and the year after it was refurbished. The chart show the result of surveys about the satisfaction level of visitors during the same two periods.

Overall, it is clear that the number of visitors increased after the refurbishment. Likewise, the overall satisfaction level of visitors increased and dissatisfied visitors decreased gradually.

Looking first at the number of visitors, the figure stood at 74,000 visitors before the renovation of Ashdown Museum. Meanwhile, the number of visitors rose significantly to 92,000 after the refurbishment of museum.

Turning to the results of surveys, 15% of visitors were very satisfied before the refurbishment, compared with 35% afterward. Similarly, the proportion of satisfied visitors increased from 30% to 40%. In contrast, the number of dissatisfied visitors fell from 40% to 15%, while the figure of very dissatisfied visitors decreased from 10% to 5%. The proportion of visitors with no response remained stable at 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main features accurately: visitor numbers rose from 74,000 to 92,000, satisfaction increased, and dissatisfaction declined. The overview identifies the broad trends, while the body reports all five survey categories with correct figures, including the unchanged 5% with no response. This gives the response a clear, relevant account of the data. However, the overview’s phrase “increased and dissatisfied visitors decreased gradually” is imprecise: the charts compare two points, so “gradually” is not supported. Also, the response is 145 words, five short of the 150-word minimum; develop the comparison or add a concise detail to meet the requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure: introduction, overview, visitor totals, and survey results. Its progression from the overall trends to the figures is easy to follow, and linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Looking first,” “Turning to,” and “In contrast” help signal the comparisons. This is a coherent arrangement, with some effective use of cohesive devices. To make the flow more flexible and less formulaic, vary how comparisons are connected rather than relying mainly on set transitions. The overview could also distinguish more precisely between the rise in positive responses and the fall in negative responses, preparing the reader for the detailed figures that follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “refurbishment,” “proportion,” “rose significantly,” and “remained stable.” These choices communicate the data clearly, and the response uses suitable terms for describing changes and survey categories. Some word choices and collocations are less natural or precise: “the chart show” is a form error rather than a vocabulary issue, while “the figure of very dissatisfied visitors” and “satisfaction level” could be expressed more idiomatically as “the proportion of very dissatisfied visitors” and “visitor satisfaction.” “Renovation” is understandable, but switching between it and “refurbishment” is unnecessary. Aim for consistent, precise phrasing when describing percentages and categories.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including comparisons with “compared with” and “while,” and most sentences are readily understood. Some grammatical errors remain. In the opening, “The given table illustrate” should be “The given table illustrates,” and “The chart show” should be “The charts show.” In “after the refurbishment of museum,” an article is needed: “of the museum.” The overview phrase “dissatisfied visitors decreased gradually” also has an awkward grammatical construction; the proportion of dissatisfied visitors decreased is clearer. These errors do not prevent understanding, but checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence phrasing would improve accuracy.

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.