Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04
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 illustrates the proportion of groups of library users and the table chart gives information about satisfaction of library user.
Overall, in pie chart, the expenditure of full time undergraduates is greater than the expenditure of academic staffs. In table chart, it is devide in three parts (very satisfied, fairly satisfied and not satisfied). The percentage of very satisfied library users are greater than as compared to other categories of satisfaction.
In terms of pie chart, the expenditure of full time undergraduates is less than two fifth. While, the proportion of full time postgraduates is a quarter, the percentage of part time postgraduates is more than a fifth. Likewise, distance learning (all courses) is one ten, acadmic staff percentages are also one ten.
In contrast, in the table chart, for library opening hours, 65% are very satisfied, 35% are fairly satisfied, and 0% are not satisfied. On the other hand, for helpfulness of staff, 95% are very satisfied, 5% are fairly satisfied, and 0% are not satisfied. For availability of books, 50% are very satisfied, 40% are fairly satisfied, and 10% are not satisfied. For availability of journals, 45% are very satisfied, 35% are fairly satisfied, and 20% are not satisfied. Finally, for reliability, 48% are very satisfied, 33% are fairly satisfied, and 19% are not satisfied.
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 pie chart and the table. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. However, there is a significant misunderstanding of the data: you repeatedly refer to the pie chart categories as 'expenditure', whereas the chart clearly labels them as 'Categories of library users'. This misinterpretation of the data source affects the accuracy of your reporting. To reach a higher band, ensure you carefully read the labels and titles provided in the prompt to avoid misrepresenting the information presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'In contrast', and 'On the other hand' to link your ideas. However, the progression within the body paragraphs is somewhat mechanical, particularly in the final paragraph where you list the data point by point. Using more varied linking phrases and grouping similar data points together would improve the flow and make the report more cohesive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the data, such as 'proportion', 'percentage', and 'categories'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'devide' (spelling error) and 'one ten' (which should be 'one-tenth'). Additionally, the repeated use of 'expenditure' when referring to user categories is a lexical error that impacts the clarity of your report. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for data description and ensure you check your spelling and word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it is devide' (passive voice error), 'percentage... are greater' (subject-verb agreement), and 'acadmic staff percentages are also one ten' (missing article/preposition). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to enhance the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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