Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26

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 8.5)

The pie chart, table and bar chart provide information about Little Chalfont Library in 2016, illustrating the age of library members, proportion of loans by category and total number of loans between 2007 and 2016.

Overall, adults aged 18-64 accounted for the largest proportion of library members, while adults aged 65 and over represented the smallest group. In terms of loans by category, children's fiction and adult fiction were equal. Moreover, the total number of loans generally increased throughout the period despite a slight decline in 2013.

Adults aged 18–64 made up the majority of library members, accounting for 51% of the total. Children were the second-largest group at 22%, followed by young adults aged 13–17, who represented 15%. Adults aged 65 and over constituted the smallest proportion, at just 12%.

Regarding the categories of borrowed items, children's fiction and adult fiction were equally popular, with each accounting for 38% of total loans. Adult non-fiction ranked third at 13%, whereas children's non-fiction represented only 6%. By contrast, children's DVDs, young adults' books and adult audiobooks were the least borrowed categories, at 1%, 2% and 2%, respectively.

The total number of loans showed an overall upward trend between 2007 and 2016. The figure increased from approximately 16,000 in 2007 to around 19,000 in 2008 and remained almost unchanged in 2009. It then rose steadily to just over 21,000 in 2011 before experiencing a slight decline over the following two years. After recovering in 2014, the number of loans continued to increase and reached a peak of approximately 21,500 in 2016.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified and reported all the main features of the three charts provided. The overview is clear and highlights the most significant trends and proportions, such as the dominant age group of members and the overall upward trend in loans. You have also made effective comparisons, for instance, noting that children's and adult fiction were equally popular. The data is accurately represented, and the selection of information is balanced across all three visual aids. You have fully addressed all parts of the task with a clear, logical structure that makes the information easy to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

Your writing is very well-organized. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the first introduces the charts, the second provides an overview, the third details membership, the fourth covers loan categories, and the final paragraph describes the trend over time. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Overall,' 'In terms of,' 'Regarding,' and 'By contrast,' which help guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct sets of information. There is a natural flow throughout the text, and referencing is precise.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. You use precise terminology such as 'accounted for,' 'constituted,' 'proportion,' 'upward trend,' and 'remained almost unchanged.' The use of adverbs like 'steadily' and 'approximately' adds precision to your descriptions of the data. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used naturally to convey complex information clearly. You have successfully avoided repetition by using a variety of synonyms to describe the data points.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammatical control is very strong. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'Adults aged 18–64 made up the majority of library members, accounting for 51% of the total' and 'The figure increased from approximately 16,000 in 2007 to around 19,000 in 2008 and remained almost unchanged in 2009.' The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your use of punctuation is accurate. You show good control over tense usage, correctly shifting between the present tense for static data and the past tense for historical trends. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication.

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