Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08

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 given bar chart give information about the categories of library users in university.

Overall, the maximum number of undergraduate students are spend full time in university library. However, the largest number of students are very satisfied in library facilities.

Having a myopic look, the majority of undergraduate students are spend full time in library followed by full time postgraduate students. While, only 16 percent part time postgraduate students spend time in library. Moreover, the number of distance learning and academic staff students who spend time on library is 8 percent and 7 percent respectively.

Further more, 65 percent of students are very satisfied with library opening hours followed by helpfulness of staff and availability of books. 45 percent and 48 percent students satisfied with Availability of journals and reliability of wi-fi respectively. Nearly 35 percent students are fairly satisfied with given facilities. The least number of students are not satisfied in all facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, including the categories of users and satisfaction levels. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it identifies the highest categories but lacks a clear synthesis of the trends. The reporting of data is generally accurate, though there are some inaccuracies in the description of the groups, such as referring to 'academic staff students,' which is a misinterpretation of the data labels. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant differences between the groups and the satisfaction metrics more clearly, rather than just listing percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'Having a myopic look' and 'Further more'. The transition between the two distinct datasets (user categories and satisfaction) is abrupt. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise to maintain a smoother progression of ideas throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'spend' and 'satisfied'. Some word choices are slightly awkward or inaccurate, such as 'myopic look' (which is not standard in this context) and the misidentification of 'academic staff' as 'academic staff students'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise reporting verbs and nouns, and avoid repeating the same phrases when describing percentages or trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'The given bar chart give information' (subject-verb agreement), 'are spend' (incorrect passive/active construction), and 'students satisfied with' (missing auxiliary verb). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing data in academic reports.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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