Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13
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 8.5)
The pie chart illustrates the proportions of different categories of users of a university library, while the table shows the results of a survey concerning their satisfaction with five aspects of the library.
Overall, full-time undergraduates constituted by far the largest group of library users, whereas academic staff accounted for the smallest proportion. In terms of satisfaction, the helpfulness of staff received the most positive ratings, while the availability of journals and the reliability of Wi-Fi had comparatively higher levels of dissatisfaction.
Full-time undergraduates represented 44% of all library users, followed by full-time postgraduates at 25%. Part-time postgraduates accounted for a further 16%, while distance-learning students made up 8%. Academic staff were the smallest category, comprising just 7% of users. Therefore, undergraduate students alone accounted for almost half of all library users.
Regarding satisfaction, the helpfulness of staff was rated most positively, with 95% of respondents being very satisfied and the remaining 5% fairly satisfied. Library opening hours also received favourable ratings, as 65% of users were very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied, meaning that nobody was dissatisfied with this aspect.
The availability of books received 50% very satisfied and 40% fairly satisfied responses, while 10% were not satisfied. The figures for journals were less positive, with 45% being very satisfied, 35% fairly satisfied and 20% dissatisfied. Similarly, 48% of users were very satisfied with Wi-Fi reliability, compared with 33% who were fairly satisfied and 19% who were not satisfied. Thus, journals and Wi-Fi were the two areas that generated the highest levels of dissatisfaction.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main features of both the pie chart and the table, providing a logical overview and supporting it with accurate data. You successfully compared the categories of users and highlighted the key satisfaction trends, such as the high satisfaction with staff helpfulness versus the dissatisfaction with Wi-Fi and journals. The information is well-selected and fully addresses all parts of the prompt, ensuring the reader has a clear understanding of the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'in terms of', 'regarding', and 'similarly'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two distinct data sets, which helps the reader follow your analysis easily. The structure is coherent throughout, and the use of referencing is precise.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases like 'constituted by far the largest group', 'favourable ratings', and 'generated the highest levels of dissatisfaction' show a sophisticated command of language. The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the range of terms used to describe statistical data is varied and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. For example, the use of participial phrases ('comprising just 7% of users') and comparative structures ('compared with 33% who were...') shows high proficiency. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the writing is fluent and easy to read.
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