Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11
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 charts illustrate data about a public library in a city called little Chalfont.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that age groups between 18 and 64 presented with the highest category while adults which age 65 and over represented with the lowest figure. Children's fiction accounted for the highest percentage whereas children's DVDs remained the lowest throughout the period. In 2011 the highest number of loans taken among all years. In contrast, the lowest number of loans taken in 2007.
Age of library members, adults between 18 to 64 was on top, accounting for 51%. While children stood at 22%. Adults 65 and over and young adults showed almost similar figures 12% and 15% respectively. Total loans by category, an identical proportion observed for children's fiction and adults fiction 38 % each. Adult non fiction showed moderate trend 38%.
In total number of loans, the highest number of loans recorded in 2011 which 20,000 and lowest in 2007 which is 15.000. During 2008 and 2009 showed similar trend 18,000 each. The total number of loans was represented with the lowest amount around 15,500 in 2007. After which it fluctuated from 2008 to 2016 and reached almost 21,500.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three charts provided, identifying key features such as the dominant age group (18-64) and the most popular loan category (children's fiction). However, the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. For instance, you mention 'adult non-fiction' showed a 'moderate trend' of 38%, but the data indicates it is 24%. Additionally, there is a contradiction regarding the total loans in 2007, where you state 15,000 and 15,500 in the same paragraph. While the main features are highlighted, the lack of precision in reporting data points and the internal contradictions prevent a higher score. Ensure that figures are transcribed accurately from the charts to maintain task reliability.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast', 'While', and 'In total number of loans' to signal transitions. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some sentences feel disjointed. For example, the transition between the age group data and the loan category data is abrupt. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the years and the loan figures is slightly confusing. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'represented', 'fluctuated', and 'proportion'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'presented with the highest category' (should be 'represented the highest category') and 'adults which age 65' (should be 'adults aged 65'). The repetition of 'highest number of loans' and 'lowest' indicates a limited range of descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to vary your verbs and adjectives when describing trends and proportions, and ensure that your terminology is used in the correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in city called little Chalfont'), incorrect verb forms ('adults which age 65'), and punctuation errors (e.g., '2011 which 20,000'). Some sentences are fragmented, such as 'Total loans by category, an identical proportion observed for children's fiction and adults fiction'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence construction will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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