Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-13

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 given table elaborates number of people who visited the Ashdown Museum annually before and after it was refurbished. overall number of people during the year before refurbishment was 74000 that was increased to 92000 during the year after refurbishment.

The given charts illustrate the satisfaction level of visitors during the year before and after refurbishment.

Overall, both charts demonstrate visiting people's satisfaction levels increased over the given period of time. The very satisfied visitors doubled from before to after refurbishment. Satisfied visitors number also increase by 10 % from before to after. Non responsive number of visitors remain the same. very dissatisfied people decreased after the refurbishment while there is dramatic change in dissatisfied number of people from 40 to 15 after the refurbishment of museum.

In conclusion, there is increase in satisfactory visitors and decline in who were dissatisfied after the refurbishment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main comparison: visitor numbers rose from 74,000 to 92,000, and satisfaction generally improved after refurbishment. You also report several survey figures accurately, including dissatisfied visitors falling from 40% to 15% and no response remaining at 5%. However, the overview is not fully precise: very satisfied visitors rose from 15% to 35%, so they did not double, and satisfied visitors increased by 10 percentage points, not simply “10%.” The statement that both charts show satisfaction increasing is too broad because the categories show different movements. The response is also six words below the required minimum. Include a clearer overview and report the key proportions accurately to develop the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: it introduces the table and charts, gives an overview, and ends with a concluding statement. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, the final “In conclusion” repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison, and the paragraph about survey results moves through categories without a particularly clear grouping. Cohesive links such as “while” help contrast the figures, but some connections are mechanical or unclear, as in “The very satisfied visitors doubled from before to after refurbishment.” Organise the survey data into positive and negative responses, and use precise references to the two years so that progression and comparisons are clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “refurbished,” “satisfaction level,” “dissatisfied,” and “dramatic change,” so the topic is clear. However, the range is limited and several expressions are awkward or imprecise: “elaborates number of people,” “visiting people's satisfaction levels,” and “Non responsive number” do not sound natural in this context. “Satisfactory visitors” also changes the meaning; the chart describes visitors’ satisfaction, not a type of visitor. Repetition of “visitors,” “number,” and “refurbishment” further limits flexibility. Aim for accurate collocations such as “the number of visitors,” “respondents,” and “the proportion who were satisfied,” while retaining straightforward language where it is clearest.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main message is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement, and verb forms. For example, “The given table elaborates number” needs an article and a more suitable construction, while “Satisfied visitors number also increase” has incorrect word order and verb agreement. In “Non responsive number of visitors remain the same,” the subject and verb do not agree, and “very dissatisfied” should begin with a capital letter after a full stop. Sentence structures are mostly straightforward, with limited control of more complex comparisons. Practise accurate comparative sentences and check articles, singular/plural forms, and verb endings during proofreading.

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