Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11
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 percentage about categories of library users and the table illustrates the proportion of how many users satisfied with the library.
Overall, full-time undergraduate students constituted the highest user-friendly category.
Regarding to circular graph, full-time undergraduate students accounted for less than half in total users, making it the highest users. While, compared to whole-time undergraduate learners, full-time postgraduate category recorded the second most popular with a quarter. 16% of user in part-time postgraduate. Academic staff and distance learning category was 15%, collectively.
Turning to the table, Library opening hours stood at 65% user very satisfied, 35% user fairly satisfied with library opening hours. The highest amount of students very satisfied with helpfulness staff(95%). User who very satisfied with availability of books and journals was half and 45% respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the chart and table, the analysis is underdeveloped. For instance, the description of the table data is fragmented and lacks a clear comparison between the categories. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed with sufficient detail and meet the length requirement to allow for a full development of the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes awkward, such as 'Regarding to circular graph' and 'Turning to the table'. The progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of sufficient length makes the overall flow feel disjointed. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and ideas more naturally and logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic descriptors like 'highest' and 'popular'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'user-friendly category' (which is inaccurate in this context) and 'whole-time undergraduate learners'. To improve, try to use more specific academic vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'constituted', 'accounted for', or 'proportion', and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'proportion of how many users satisfied' (should be 'proportion of users who were satisfied') and '16% of user in part-time' (should be '16% of users were in the part-time category'). Additionally, there are missing articles and issues with subject-verb agreement. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent verb tenses will help improve your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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