Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25

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 classified the ageing group of library members with the percentage of lending by category. The bar graph illustrates the cumulative number of borrowing undertaken the following year in between from 2007 to 2016.

Overall, The pie chart and the rate involve categories shows the segmentation of choices among the members. The Bar graph gives an overview of how the growing trend of borrowing taking rise each year.

In the following pie chart, it can be seen that the majority of the members are "Adult 18-64" which is around 51. As a result, the segmented proportion of rate holding by adult group is showing clear dominance, Adult fiction (38%), Adult non-fiction(13%) and Adult audio books (2%). In addition, the second majority of the members are Children therefore there are significant percentage of children related books are being lend in 2016.

Furthermore, the bar graph demonstrates the clear view on the number total borrowing throughout the year. In 2007, the number was around 16000 and it kept on gradually rising which crossed over 21000 in the year 2011 showing the new population are being added each years. Finally. in the year 2016, the substantial number hit around 23000 members which is highest in respective of the previous years.

In contrast, the adult population might hold the great number in terms of membership. However, the new children groups are getting into the list each year illustrates the systemic rise in the total lending numbers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of both the pie chart and the bar graph. You successfully identified the dominant age group and the upward trend in borrowing. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention '51' but fail to specify that this refers to a percentage, and the comparison between the two charts could be more explicit. While you identify the main trends, the interpretation of the data is occasionally imprecise, such as the claim that the rise in borrowing is due to 'new population' being added, which is an assumption not supported by the provided data. To reach a higher band, ensure all data points are clearly labelled and avoid drawing conclusions that go beyond the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Finally. in the year 2016'. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, 'the rate involve categories' in the second paragraph is confusing and does not clearly link to the data presented. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that referencing is precise will help improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'segmentation', 'dominance', and 'cumulative'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'ageing group' (should be 'age group'), 'rate holding' (unclear meaning), and 'in respective of' (incorrect usage). Some phrasing is repetitive, and the lack of precision in describing the data (e.g., 'the number was around 16000') limits the score. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure that your vocabulary choices accurately reflect the data being described.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The pie chart classified' instead of 'classifies'), missing articles ('the' majority), and punctuation errors (e.g., 'Finally. in the year'). Some sentences are clunky, such as 'the segmented proportion of rate holding by adult group is showing clear dominance'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency and accuracy of the text.

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