Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30
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 pie chart, the table and the bar chart provide data about the age of members in 2016, the total loans by each category, and the total number of loans between 2007 and 2016 in a public library in Little Chalfont.
Overall, adults accounted for the largest proportion of library users, while older people made up the smallest share. In terms of loans, children's fiction and adult fiction were the most popular categories, whereas children's DVDs were the least borrowed. The total number of loans fluctuated throughout the period.
Users from 18 to 64 considered 51% of the members in 2016, which is the biggest proportion among the users, followed by 22% for children and 15% for young adults between 13 and 17. the least share by 12% for people that are 65 and over. In the same year, in terms of loans, children's fiction and adult fiction accounted for 38%, followed by 13% for adult non-fiction. Furthermore, then by 2% for adult audiobooks and young adults. the least proportion by 1% for children's DVDs.
The total number of loans in 2007 stood slightly more than 15,000 and then increased to around 18,000, where it remained stable in 2009. Rose over 20,000 and then back to less than 20,000 in 2013.
Exceeded 20,000 in 2014 and kept rising until around 22,000 in 2016.
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 response covers all three data sets provided in the prompt: member age distribution, loan categories, and the trend in total loans over time. The overview effectively captures the main trends, noting that adults formed the largest share of members, fiction books dominated loans, and overall borrowing fluctuated. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings in reporting specific data points, such as stating that users aged 18 to 64 'considered 51% of the members' instead of accounting for them. Despite these minor misreadings and slightly underdeveloped numerical comparisons, all parts of the task are addressed adequately, placing this response solidly in Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is organized into four distinct paragraphs, separating the introduction, overview, membership/category breakdown, and the multi-year loan trend. This logical structure aids progression. Cohesive devices and referencing are generally adequate, though some transitions feel abrupt or mechanical, such as starting a sentence with 'Furthermore, then by 2%'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different graphical features. While referencing is sometimes unclear, the overall arrangement is coherent, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully utilizing terms like 'proportion', 'category', 'fluctuated', and 'fiction'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'considered 51% of the members' instead of 'comprised' or 'accounted for', and 'the least share by 12%'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. Spelling is accurate throughout, and errors in word choice do not impede communication, making this a clear Band 6 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though complex structures are sometimes flawed or incomplete. For instance, fragments appear in the final paragraph, such as 'Rose over 20,000 and then back to less than 20,000 in 2013' lacking a subject, and 'Exceeded 20,000 in 2014'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but grammatical inaccuracies occur consistently when handling percentages and verb choices (e.g., missing prepositions or auxiliary verbs). These errors rarely impede communication but prevent the script from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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