Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below give information about a public library in a town called Little Chalfont.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The pie chart represents the number of age groups and their proportions in library membership, while table demonstrates percentages of loan taken for categories of books. Overall, age group 18-64 is accounted for largest membership group, while young adults between age 13-17 are shown as smallest group in library membership.

In Year 2016, most of the loans have been taken for adult fiction and children's fiction, while loans have been decreased drammatically for Children's DVD, Young Adults, and Adult Audio Books that only 1%, 2%, and 2% of overall loan catgories.

In bar graph, it is clearly observed that the total number loans spiked too much between 2007 and 2016. Highest loans are taken in the year 2016 which are approximately 20k, while 2007 saw lowest peak in taking loans which is upto 15k. Furthermore, almost same amount of loans are taken between year 2010 and 2012.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main membership pattern and the dominant loan categories, and you include the overall rise in loans. However, some key details are inaccurate or unclear: young adults are not the smallest membership group; people aged 65 and over account for 12%, compared with 15% for young adults. The statement that loans “have been decreased dramatically” for three categories is unsupported, since the chart gives their shares rather than changes over time. The loan total in 2016 is also closer to 21,700, not approximately 20,000. Your overview is relevant but incomplete, and the response is three words below the required minimum. Include more precise comparisons and cover the charts more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening summary, a paragraph about loan categories, and a final paragraph describing the trend in total loans. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Furthermore,” and “while” help connect points, although some transitions are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately. For example, “while loans have been decreased” suggests a time-based contrast that the category table does not show. The final paragraph also moves quickly from the overall trend to a comparison of 2010–2012 without explaining the intervening fluctuations. Group the membership and category data clearly, then describe the loan trend in chronological order with a concise overview.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportions,” “membership,” “categories,” and “total number of loans,” so the topic is generally clear. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “loans have been taken,” “spiked too much,” and “lowest peak in taking loans” do not describe the data naturally. “Decreased dramatically” is also unsuitable because the table reports category shares, not a decline over time. Spelling errors such as “drammatically” and “catgories” further reduce accuracy. Aim for precise reporting verbs and phrases, such as “accounted for,” “made up,” “rose,” and “reached a peak.” This would make your vocabulary more flexible and appropriate for an academic data summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the main message is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “while table demonstrates” needs an article, and “age group 18-64 is accounted for largest membership group” has an awkward passive structure and missing article. In “the total number loans,” a preposition is missing; “which are approximately 20k” also has an unclear plural reference to the total. The phrase “loans have been decreased” uses an unsuitable passive form. Use direct constructions such as “Adults aged 18–64 formed the largest group” and check articles, verb forms, and agreement. Greater control of these patterns would improve clarity.

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