Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22

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 below given charts display the information about a public library in a town known as Little Chalfont.

Overall, the charts describe information about the age of library members , total loans taken by different members for books , comics and DVDs in year 2016. Furthermore , a graph shows the increase and decrease in the total numbers of loans from year 2007 to 2016.

Little Chalfont Library has its members of every age. The percentage of children out of total is 22% and the total loans taken for children fiction and non-fictions is 38% and 6% respectively which is the same for adult fiction. But in case of adult non-fiction the percentage doubles reaching 13%. This is the case for adults having age 18-64 with more than half the percentage which is 51%. Children DVDs also have a minor percentage of 1% which equals to loans taken for young adults of age13-17 that is 2%. No loans are taken for adults of age 65 and over.

Looking at the graph the loans taken were increased from 2007 to 2008 reaching 20,000 which remained exactly the same in 2009 and increased in 2010 exceeding 20,000 and stayed approximately same in 2011 and 2012. A slight decrease was seen in 2013 from 20,000. However the loans taken increased in 2014 and 2015 and reached the peak in 2016 which were 22.000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts, including the age demographics, loan categories, and the trend over time. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages rather than synthesising the data effectively. For instance, you mention that adult non-fiction is 13% and adult age 18-64 is 51%, but you do not clearly link these to the overall library usage patterns. Additionally, there are some inaccuracies in interpreting the data, such as stating 'No loans are taken for adults of age 65 and over' when the chart likely indicates a different category or missing data. To improve, focus on grouping related data points to highlight significant trends or contrasts rather than listing figures sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, a body paragraph for the charts, and a final paragraph for the line graph. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', and 'However' helps guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly awkward, such as 'This is the case for adults having age 18-64', which lacks clarity in its reference. The flow between sentences is generally functional, but the paragraphing could be more sophisticated by ensuring each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. Referencing is occasionally imprecise, which slightly hinders the logical progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographics', 'percentage', and 'exceeding'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'total loans taken for children fiction' is slightly unnatural; 'loans of children's fiction' would be more accurate. You also use 'the percentage doubles reaching 13%', which is a bit imprecise. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but the phrasing often feels repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The percentage of children out of total is 22% and the total loans taken for children fiction... is 38%'. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the below given charts' (should be 'the charts below'), 'in year 2016' (should be 'in the year 2016'), and 'stayed approximately same' (should be 'stayed approximately the same'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to limit your score in this criterion.

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

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