Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-29

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 the data of the library members according to their age groups and loans by category in 2016 at Little Chalfont Library.

Overall, the pie charts categorize the number of people who joined the library according to their age; adults between 18 and 64 comprise the largest share of the chart, followed by children, adults, and the smallest share of young adults. Also, there were various categories of loans in 2016.

In 2016, Adults between 18 and 64 showed a noticeable number of members, accounting for 51. After that, children showed the second-largest number of library members, which was 22. Moreover, adults aged 65 and over comprised 15 members, and the lowest number of members was shown by young adults aged 13 to 17.

There were seven loan categories in 2016; children's fiction was the highest category, accounting for 38%, and showed a remarkable decline in the percentage of loans from 6% to 2%.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is incomplete. While you identify the age groups and loan categories, you fail to provide a comprehensive comparison. For instance, you mention the percentages for loan categories but do not describe the full range of data provided in the second chart. Furthermore, the statement regarding a 'remarkable decline' in children's fiction from 6% to 2% is confusing and does not seem to be supported by the provided data, suggesting a misinterpretation of the visual information. To improve, ensure you report all key data points clearly and avoid making unsupported claims about trends that are not present in the static data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall,' 'In 2016,' and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the two charts is abrupt, and the final sentence is disconnected from the rest of the paragraph, lacking a clear logical flow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices to connect sentences more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that guides the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the charts with basic precision. You use terms like 'categorize,' 'comprise,' and 'share' appropriately. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'showed a noticeable number of members' instead of 'accounted for the largest proportion.' There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptors. To improve, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data analysis, such as 'constitute,' 'predominate,' or 'marginal,' to demonstrate a more flexible control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'Adults between 18 and 64 showed a noticeable number of members, accounting for 51' is missing a unit of measurement (e.g., percent or number). Additionally, the sentence 'the lowest number of members was shown by young adults aged 13 to 17' is grammatically correct but slightly awkward. You should focus on ensuring that all numerical data is clearly qualified with appropriate units and that your sentence structures are varied to improve the overall flow and accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.