Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart and table below show the results of a survey of library users at a university.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Categories of library users
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The pie chart depicts the total portion consumers ranging from academic staff to distance learner whereas table illustrates the feedback of users to several factors of library.
Overall, it is apparent that most of the users of library are full-time undergraduate while academic staff shared the smallest portion. In addition, a considerable number of users are satisfied with the helpfulness of staff.
To begin with, full-time undergraduate represented the largest portion and accounted for 44% followed by full-time postgraduate made up nearly 25% of the total. Part-time postgraduate recorded as 16% whereas the percentage for distance learning and academic staff were almost identical at around 8% and 7% respectively.
On the other hand, it seems that overall users are satisfied with the helpfulness of staff. The feedback of availability of books is balanced neither satisfied nor unsatisfied. It is noticeable that 48% of users are satisfied whereas 20% of consumers are not satisfied with availability of journals.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of both the chart and the table. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. However, the analysis of the table is slightly underdeveloped. While you mention satisfaction levels, you could have made more direct comparisons between the categories (e.g., comparing the high satisfaction for 'helpfulness of staff' against the lower satisfaction for 'availability of journals'). To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are integrated into a cohesive analytical narrative rather than just listing figures. Overall, you have covered the requirements of the task well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'To begin with', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the pie chart data and the table data could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly imprecise, such as 'the feedback of availability of books is balanced', which lacks clarity regarding the specific data points. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear reference to the data will enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'depicts', 'accounted for', and 'identical'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'total portion consumers' is awkward; 'proportion of users' would be more natural. Similarly, 'feedback of availability' should be 'feedback on the availability'. You attempt to use some less common vocabulary, but the precision is inconsistent. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to data description and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the information presented in the visual aids.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' before 'table', 'the' before 'helpfulness') and issues with verb forms (e.g., 'full-time undergraduate represented' should be 'full-time undergraduates'). Additionally, 'whereas table illustrates' is missing a determiner. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage to improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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