Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01

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 pie chart illustrates the age of library members in 2016 . Whereas, the bar graph and table depicts number of loans initiated by the members from 2007 to 2016 and by category in 2016 respectively.

Overall, adults members have the highest participation. In contrast, young adults are the least interested one's. Further, the maximum number of loans where initiated in children's fiction category and the lowest in DVD's.

Children below the age of 13 are the second highest library members. Followed by, adults above 65 and over with the count of 15. Throughout, adults between 18 and 64 showed maximum participation in 2016.

Furthermore, members taking loan from 2007 to 2016 showed an upward trajectory starting with 15,000 in 2007 and finally hitting approximately 22,000 in the end. In addition, the lowest percentile of loans were observed in children's DVDs and young adults sector with 1% and 2% accordingly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all three visual elements provided. You successfully identify the main trends, such as the upward trajectory of loans and the age distribution of members. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention 'adults above 65 and over with the count of 15', but it is unclear if this refers to a percentage or a raw number, which is a significant ambiguity. Additionally, the comparison between categories could be more precise. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly labelled and that you provide a more analytical comparison rather than just listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly misused, such as 'Whereas, the bar graph and table depicts...' at the start, which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the data points. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used with greater precision would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trajectory', 'participation', and 'category'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'lowest percentile' is used incorrectly to describe percentages, and 'initiated' is slightly formal for the context of library loans. There are also minor errors such as 'one's' (should be 'ones') and 'DVD's' (should be 'DVDs'). To improve, focus on using vocabulary that is more precise and natural for describing statistical data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('bar graph and table depicts' should be 'depict') and punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma in 'Followed by, adults'. There are also issues with preposition usage and pluralisation. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and punctuation would be beneficial.

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

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