Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12
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 8.0)
The pie chart and table provide information regarding the membership demographics and loan categories at the Little Chalfont Library in 2016.
Overall, it is clear that adults aged 18 to 64 constituted the majority of the library's membership. In terms of borrowing habits, fiction books were by far the most popular items loaned out, accounting for an equal share of borrowing among both children and adults.
Looking first at membership demographics, individuals aged 18–64 made up over half of the total library members at 51%. Children represented the second-largest group at 22%, followed by senior citizens (adults aged 65 and over) at 15%. Young adults between the ages of 13 and 17 comprised the smallest membership segment, accounting for just 12%.
Regarding total loans, fiction books were the dominant category. Children’s fiction and adult fiction each accounted for 38% of all borrowings, combining to make up over three-quarters of the library's total loans. In contrast, non-fiction categories were far less popular; adult non-fiction accounted for 13% of loans, while children’s non-fiction stood at 6%. The remaining categories saw minimal activity, with young adults and adult audio books each making up 2%, and children's DVDs recording the lowest figure at just 1%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by effectively summarising the main features of both the membership demographics chart and the loan categories table for Little Chalfont Library in 2016. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the dominant adult membership group and the popularity of fiction books. Key features are accurately reported and supported with specific data points, such as 51% for members aged 18 to 64 and 38% for both children's and adult fiction loans. Comparisons are well-made throughout the text, meeting all requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is exceptionally well-organised, demonstrating a clear logical progression from an introductory summary to detailed body paragraphs. Information is skillfully divided: the first body paragraph covers membership demographics, while the second focuses on loan categories. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively without being obtrusive, as seen with phrases like 'Looking first at', 'Regarding total loans', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the visual data, ensuring a smooth and reader-friendly flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary items and phrasing such as 'membership demographics', 'constituted the majority', 'dominant category', and 'minimal activity' are employed accurately and with good awareness of collocation. Word choices are precise, and there are no noticeable lexical errors or inappropriate spelling throughout the entire text, allowing the communication of data to be completely clear and professional.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. Sentences are well-constructed, incorporating participial phrases (e.g., 'combining to make up over three-quarters') and subordinate clauses smoothly. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any grammatical control is strong, with accurate punctuation and consistent use of past tense verbs to describe the 2016 data. There are no systemic errors or issues that impede communication.
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