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 chart and table illustrate the information related to the library users obtained via a survey conducted at a university.
Overall, the pie chart shows the proportion of multiple categories of people including students and staff using the library. With the majority being full time undergraduate students whilst the lowest share was held by the academic staff . On the other hand the table represents the satisfaction of overall users in multiple aspects of the library with most users being very satisfied with the staff.
The pie chart indicates majority users of the library being either full time undergraduate students at 44 percent or full time postgraduate students accounting for 25 percent of the total users. Whilst online learning users accounted for just 8 percent of the users, which may be due to 19 percent of users being unsatisfied by the wi-fi connection as shown in the table. Followed by the academic staff of the university having the smallest share at 7 percent of the total users.
No users complained about the opening hours as well as the cooperation of the library staff . However 20 percent of the users were not satisfied by the availability of journals in the library whilst in the other 80 percent of users surveyed, the higher proportion of users being very satisfied with the availability of journals.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 and provides a clear overview of the main features. You successfully identified the largest and smallest user groups and highlighted key satisfaction metrics from the table. However, the analysis could be more precise. For instance, you mention 80 percent of users were 'very satisfied' with journals, but the table actually shows 80 percent total satisfaction (very satisfied + satisfied). Additionally, linking the online learning percentage directly to Wi-Fi dissatisfaction is a speculative inference rather than a direct report of the data provided. To reach a higher band, ensure you report the data accurately without introducing external assumptions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas, moving from the pie chart data to the table statistics. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'However' effectively. However, the transition between the pie chart and the table could be smoother. Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as the final sentence of the second paragraph, which feels like a list rather than a cohesive analysis. Improving the use of linking phrases to connect the two data sets would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounting for', and 'satisfied'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'majority users' instead of 'the majority of users' and 'in the other 80 percent' which is slightly awkward phrasing. While you successfully convey the meaning, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the more sophisticated, precise collocations required for higher bands. Focusing on more varied ways to describe trends and proportions will help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' wi-fi connection), punctuation issues (unnecessary spaces before periods), and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'Followed by the academic staff... having the smallest share'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly to maintain clarity.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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