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 and table depicts the data of a survey of users of a library in a certain university.
Overall, the users of the library is given in percentage in a pie chart with the largest proportion as full-time undergraduate students and the second highest as postgraduates and eventually decreasing number of user percentages. Additionally, the satisfaction rate of the library facilities is mostly marked as very satisfied to fairly satisfied with only one few (books, journals and wi-fi) as not satisfied.
Firstly, the most library visitor in the pie is full-time undergraduates as the proportion is less than a half (44%) while the second and third position is taken by full-time postgraduates(25%) and part-time postgraduates(16%), respectively. Additionally, the other users are almost less than 10% of the whole users percentage.
Secondly, the users rated the highest satisfaction for stuff helpfulness(95%) while the other services are lesser as the lowest rated is journal availability(45%). Moreover, the fairly satisfied ratings are all less than a halve and dissatisfaction ratings are lower than 20% with opening hours and helpfulness both rated 0% for not satisfied.
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 by summarizing the pie chart and table. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the largest user group (full-time undergraduates) and the highest satisfaction rating (staff helpfulness). However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, you mention that 'other users are almost less than 10%', but you could have provided more specific comparisons between categories to better highlight the data. Additionally, the description of the satisfaction table lacks precision; you mention 'one few' as not satisfied, which is unclear. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described accurately and that comparisons are more explicit.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'Additionally', 'Firstly', and 'Secondly' to signal the progression of your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or are used in contexts where they don't quite fit the flow of information. For instance, 'and eventually decreasing number of user percentages' is a bit awkward and disrupts the logical flow. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the sentences in the final paragraph could be smoother to improve the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'satisfaction rate', and 'facilities'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'one few', 'most library visitor', and 'stuff helpfulness' (should be 'staff'). The phrase 'less than a halve' is also incorrect. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that your collocations are natural. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, the errors in word choice and the lack of more sophisticated terminology limit the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. For example, 'the users of the library is given' should be 'are given', and 'the most library visitor' should be 'the most common library visitor'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic agreement errors and refining your use of articles and pluralization.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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