Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-25
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 charts provide information about Little Chalfont Library in 2016, covering the age profile of its members, the categories of items borrowed, and the total number of loans recorded annually between 2007 and 2016.
Overall, adults aged 18-64 formed the largest share of library members, while children's fiction and adult fiction dominated borrowing activity. The total number of loans also showed a general upward trend over the ten-year period.
Regarding membership, adults aged 18-64 accounted for the majority at 51%, making them by far the largest age group. Children represented the second largest age group at 22%, followed by young adults aged 13-17 at 15%. Adults aged 65 and over made up the smallest proportion, at just 12%.
In terms of borrowing patterns, children's fiction and adult fiction were equally the most popular categories, each accounting for 38% of total loans. Adult non-fiction was a distant third at 13%, while children’s non-fiction represented 6%. The remaining categories, young adults, adult audio books, and children's DVDs each accounted for only 1-2%.
Looking at the trend in total loans, the library recorded approximately 15,000 loans in 2007. This figure rose sharply over the following two years, reaching around 20,000 by 2009, and remained relatively stable until 2011. Loans climbed again, peaking at roughly 23,000 around 2014, before leveling off slightly towards 2016.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a comprehensive summary of the charts for Little Chalfont Library in 2016 and the loan trends from 2007 to 2016. An effective overview is included in the second paragraph, highlighting the key demographic and borrowing preferences as well as the overall upward trend. Data points are accurately selected and reported, such as the 51% membership for adults aged 18-64 and the equal 38% distribution for children's and adult fiction. Comparisons are made effectively across categories and age groups, satisfying all requirements of Task 1 with well-developed ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of information from an introductory overview to specific details on membership, borrowing categories, and finally the ten-year trend in total loans. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each main chart feature receiving its own dedicated paragraph. Cohesive devices are managed well without being intrusive, employing transition phrases like 'Regarding membership', 'In terms of borrowing patterns', and 'Looking at the trend' to guide the reader smoothly through the data.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to an academic report. Less common lexical items and phrasing are used skillfully, such as 'age profile', 'dominated borrowing activity', 'distant third', and 'leveling off slightly'. Word choice and collocations are generally very accurate, with only minor approximations or natural phrasing choices throughout the text. The vocabulary successfully conveys precise statistical information and trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0
The writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences are well-constructed, combining participial phrases, subordinate clauses, and varied subject choices effectively. The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only rare minor punctuation or phrasing issues. Control of tense consistency across different time periods—past years versus general 2016 data—is handled impressively throughout the text.
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