Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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 result of a survey of library users at a university about the categories of library users, while the table compares the satisfaction proportion of the users.
Overall, the full-time undergraduates use the library the most and academic staff the least. With users most satisfied with the helpfulness of staff and least with the availability of journals.
To begin with, about 44% of the library users were undergraduates, while 25% were full-time postgraduates and 16% were part-time postgraduates. Only 8% of the users were distance learners and 7% of academic staff.
Turning to the table, about 65% of the users were very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied with library opening hours. The users were mostly satisfied with the staff, as 95% were very satisfied and 5% fairly satisfied. Similarly, 40% of users were very satisfied and 40% fairly satisfied, while 10% of users were not satisfied with available books. For the available journals and wifi, only 80% and 81% of satisfied users and 20% and 19% unsatisfied.
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 parts of the task by summarizing the categories of library users and the satisfaction levels. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the dominance of undergraduates and the high satisfaction with staff. However, the analysis of the table is slightly underdeveloped. For instance, when discussing the table, you list percentages without fully comparing them or highlighting the contrast between the most and least satisfied areas effectively. To improve, ensure you synthesize the data rather than just listing figures. For example, noting that staff helpfulness is the highest rated category while journal availability is the lowest would provide a more analytical overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use transition signals like 'To begin with' and 'Turning to the table' to guide the reader. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical. The final paragraph is a bit disjointed; the sentence 'For the available journals and wifi, only 80% and 81% of satisfied users and 20% and 19% unsatisfied' is grammatically incomplete and lacks a clear connection to the previous sentence. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that every cohesive device serves a clear purpose would elevate the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'proportion', and 'distance learners'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the use of 'satisfied' and 'users'. There are also minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the result of a survey' (should be plural 'results') and 'satisfaction proportion' (which is slightly unnatural; 'satisfaction levels' would be better). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations to describe data trends, such as 'the majority of respondents' or 'a significant minority'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'the result of a survey' should be 'the results of a survey'. The final sentence is particularly problematic: 'For the available journals and wifi, only 80% and 81% of satisfied users and 20% and 19% unsatisfied' lacks a main verb and is structurally incomplete. Additionally, there is a missing article in 'least with the availability of journals'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring every sentence has a clear predicate will improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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