Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08

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 8.5)

The three charts provide information about Little Chalfont Library, showing the age distribution of its members, the proportion of loans by category in 2016, and changes in the total number of items borrowed between 2007 and 2016.

Overall, adults aged 18–64 constituted by far the largest proportion of library members, while people aged 65 and over represented the smallest group. In terms of borrowing, children's fiction and adult fiction were equally the most popular categories. Furthermore, despite some fluctuations, the total number of annual loans generally increased over the ten-year period.

Regarding membership, adults aged 18–64 accounted for 51% of all members in 2016, followed by children at 22% and young adults aged 13–17 at 15%. By contrast, only 12% of members were aged 65 or above. As for loans, children's and adult fiction each represented 38% of the total, together accounting for more than three-quarters of all borrowing. Adult non-fiction stood at 13%, compared with 6% for children's non-fiction, while young-adult books and adult audiobooks each made up 2%, and children's DVDs accounted for just 1%.

Turning to the bar chart, approximately 16,000 items were borrowed in 2007, after which the figure rose to around 19,000 in 2008 and 2009. It exceeded 20,000 in 2010 and peaked at roughly 21,500–22,000 in 2016. Although there was a noticeable decline to below 20,000 in 2013, borrowing subsequently recovered and increased steadily during the final three years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features across the three charts, including the membership demographics, the breakdown of loan categories, and the longitudinal trend of borrowing. Your overview is clear and effectively synthesises the main trends, such as the dominance of adult members and the overall upward trajectory of borrowing. You have made relevant comparisons, such as noting that children's and adult fiction together account for over three-quarters of all borrowing. All data points are accurate and well-integrated into the narrative, ensuring the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving logically from membership to borrowing categories and finally to the historical trend. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'By contrast', 'Regarding', and 'Turning to', which help guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different data sets, and referencing is clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'constituted by far the largest proportion', 'accounted for', and 'subsequently recovered' show a high level of lexical control. You use topic-specific terminology accurately, such as 'age distribution', 'proportion of loans', and 'longitudinal trend'. The language is natural and sophisticated, with no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. The vocabulary used is well-suited to the task and enhances the clarity of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your control of grammar is highly impressive. You use a wide range of complex structures, including subordinate clauses ('although there was a noticeable decline...') and participial phrases ('showing the age distribution...'), with full flexibility and accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is precise. There is a sophisticated use of tense and modality to describe both static data and historical trends. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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