Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18
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 table illustrates the total loans by various categories in terms of age of Little Chalfont library members in 2016 and the bar chart compares the total number of loans over the period of ten years from 2007 to 2016.
Overall, it can be seen that adults aged 18 to 64 recorded the highest figure, while the children ranked second. It can also be noticed that the total number of loans increased significantly by the end of the period.
In 2016, children accounted for 22,, comprising 38% of children fiction which was higher than the non-fiction and DVDs which was 6% and 1%. Adults aged 18 to had 51%, dominated by 38% for fiction, which was also higher than the non-fiction (13%) and audio books (2%). Young adults aged 13 to 17 stood at 12% , whereas adults aged 65 and over had 12%
In 2007, the total number of loans by library members start at around 16000, rose by 19000 in 2008 and remained constant until 2009. Over the following years, the loans experienced a subtantial gowth nad reached around 22000 in 2011, then decreased to 19000 in 2013, By the end of the period, the loans peaked at 23000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The candidate attempts to cover all parts of the task by reporting information from both the table and the bar chart, providing a clear overview of the main trends. However, there are significant data interpretation and reading errors. For instance, the student confuses member percentages with raw numbers or categories, writing that 'children accounted for 22,, comprising 38% of children fiction' when the chart shows 22 thousand members or 22 individual members compared to percentages in the table. Similarly, numbers are misread in the trend section, such as stating the starting figure was 16,000 when the chart shows 15,700, and minor inaccuracies appear throughout. Despite these confusions, an overview is present and the main features are touched upon, leading to a Band 5.5 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is structured into four paragraphs, following a logical layout with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to the different charts. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In 2016', and 'Over the following years', though some linking is slightly repetitive or mechanical. Paragraphing is handled well, with distinct sections for the introduction, overview, and specific data details. However, logical progression within the third paragraph is hindered by confusion over the data categories, making the relationships between ideas occasionally unclear. Overall, the essay maintains an adequately coherent arrangement, which fits the criteria for Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'illustrates', 'compares', 'dominated', and 'remained constant'. However, there are several noticeable errors in word choice, formatting, and spelling, such as 'subtantial gowth nad' instead of 'substantial growth and'. Some expressions are awkward or misused due to mixing up percentages and categories from the visual data. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey general meaning, the frequency of lexical and typographical slips restricts the score to Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, attempting relative clauses and time markers (e.g., 'which was higher than the non-fiction and DVDs which was 6% and 1%'). Grammatical control is variable; there are punctuation errors, missing words, and subject-verb agreement or tense inconsistencies, such as 'start at around 16000' instead of 'started at'. Complex sentence attempts are frequently faulty, leading to awkward phrasing. Nevertheless, the errors do not severely impede overall communication, placing the response firmly at Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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