Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18
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 given charts provide information about the Little Chalfont Library in 2016. The pie chart illustrates the age of library members, while the table presents data on total number of loans in percentage by category. The bar chart compare the total number of loans made between 2007 and 2016.
Overall, it is apparent that in pie chart the main proportion showed by adults. In addition, Children's fiction and Adult fiction are most significant categories or accounted for the highest figure. Regarding the bar chart, the total number of loans increased over the period, despite some fluctuation, and reached its highest level in 2016.
According to the pie chart, Adults group 18 to 64 constituted the largest proportion of 51%, whereas Children at 22%. Adult fiction and children's fiction were the most borrowed categories, both accounting for 38%.
Total loans rose from about 15,500 in 2007 to 20,700 in 2016. Although the figure fluctuated slightly between 2011 and 2014,it generally followed an upward trend.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 and identifies key features, such as the dominant age group and the upward trend in loans. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention the 38% for fiction categories, you fail to compare this with the other categories in the table (e.g., non-fiction or reference), which is a key requirement for Task 1. The overview is present but could be more integrated; it currently reads as a list of observations rather than a synthesis of the main trends. To improve, ensure you group data logically and make more direct comparisons between the categories provided in the table.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organised into four paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'whereas', 'although', and 'in addition' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the pie chart description and the table data in the third paragraph is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'the main proportion showed by adults' in the second paragraph, which lacks a clear subject. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between paragraphs would elevate your score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'constituted', 'proportion', and 'fluctuated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'the main proportion showed by adults' is awkward; 'the largest proportion was accounted for by adults' would be more natural. You also use 'most significant categories or accounted for', which is grammatically confusing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your vocabulary choices are consistently accurate rather than relying on repetitive structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the 'Although...' clause in the final paragraph. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist. You have missing articles (e.g., 'in pie chart' should be 'in the pie chart') and issues with verb forms (e.g., 'the bar chart compare' should be 'the bar chart compares'). There is also a punctuation error where a space is missing after a comma ('2014,it'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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