Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13

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 illustrates the proportion of library members compared with age in year 2016 while the table represents total loans by category in the same year, whereas the graph provides information on total number of loans between 2007 to 2016.

Overall, the majority of adults library members at the age of 18-64 while only a smallest proportion is shared by adults at the age of 65 and over. Meanwhile, children's fiction and adult fiction loans are considerably higher than all other loans. However, in 2016 the total number of loans are higher and the lowest was in 2007.

In pie chart, it is evident that 51% of adults over 18 to 64 age are the members of library In contrast, only 15% is occupied by the age group of 65 and over. 22% and 12% is accounted for children and young adult at the age of 13 to 17 respectively.

In the table, 38% of loan is granted to children's and adult fiction both. Meanwhile only 1% is accounted for children's DVDs and 2% to young adults and adult audio books. Meanwhile, 6% and 13% represented to children's non-fiction and adult non-fiction respectively.

The overall graph experienced fluctuations, approximate 15,000 loans were granted in 2007 and this figure varied considerably to 2011 where the 21,000 loans were taken similarly in the end of the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons. You covered the age distribution, loan categories, and the trend over time. However, the report lacks precision in some areas. For example, you mention 'the total number of loans are higher' in 2016 without specifying what it is higher than. Additionally, the description of the trend graph is slightly inaccurate; you state the figure 'varied considerably to 2011' but do not clearly describe the overall trajectory or the final figure in 2016. To improve, ensure that all data points mentioned are clearly linked to the specific years or categories provided in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'However'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'Meanwhile' to start sentences. Furthermore, some transitions between sentences are slightly abrupt, and the referencing could be clearer. For instance, in the final paragraph, the phrase 'similarly in the end of the year' is confusing and does not clearly connect to the previous data point. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'fluctuations'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors. For example, 'the majority of adults library members' should be 'the majority of adult library members', and 'only a smallest proportion is shared by' is unnatural phrasing. Additionally, '38% of loan is granted' should be '38% of loans are granted'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, they limit the precision of your report. Focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring subject-verb agreement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the total number of loans are higher'), missing articles (e.g., 'In pie chart' should be 'In the pie chart'), and prepositional errors (e.g., 'compared with age' should be 'compared by age'). While these errors rarely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to basic sentence construction and proofread for small errors like missing articles and pluralization.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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