Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-27

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 charts provide information about a public library in a town called Little Chalfont. They show the total number of loans between 2007 and 2016, the age distribution of library members, and the percentage of loans by category in 2016.

Overall, the total number of loans increased over the period, while adults aged 18–64 made up the largest proportion of library members. In addition, fiction books accounted for the highest percentage of loans in 2016.

Firstly, the pie chart shows that adults aged 18–64 were the largest group of library members, accounting for 51%. Children represented 22%, while young adults aged 13–17 made up 15%. Adults aged 65 and over accounted for the remaining 12%.

Secondly, the line graph illustrates that the total number of loans rose steadily from 15,000 in 2007 to 20,000 in 2013, before increasing further to approximately 22,000 in 2016. Regarding the loan categories in 2016, children's fiction and adults' fiction were the most popular, accounting for 38% and 38%, respectively. By contrast, children's DVDs and adults' audiobooks represented only about 1–2% of total loans. Meanwhile, children's non-fiction and adults' non-fiction accounted for approximately 6% and 13%, while young adults' books** made up the remaining 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features of the three charts, including the upward trend in loans, the age distribution of members, and the breakdown of loan categories. The comparisons are relevant, such as noting the popularity of fiction books versus the minimal usage of DVDs and audiobooks. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are integrated seamlessly; for instance, the transition between the line graph and the pie chart could be more analytical rather than just listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'By contrast' helps guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different data sets. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The response is well-structured, making it easy to follow the information presented in the charts.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, including terms like 'accounted for', 'represented', 'rose steadily', and 'proportion'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied reporting verbs to describe the trends, such as 'witnessed a steady climb' or 'constituted the vast majority'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'the total number of loans rose steadily from 15,000 in 2007 to 20,000 in 2013, before increasing further'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentence construction is generally error-free, which allows for clear communication of the data. The use of comparative structures is also handled well.

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