Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The pie chart illustrates the proportion of categories library users at a university; meanwhile, the table presents the percentage of library users satisfaction.
Overall, it can be clearly observed that a full-time undergraduate has shared a majority of total, and according to the table, those who used the library had the most satisfaction with the helpfulness of staff.
To begin with the categories of library users, the full-time undergraduate shared the largest proportion, at 44%, followed by full-time post graduate, accounting for 25%, and others which shared the marginal amount by below 20%.
In terms of the fraction of library users satisfaction satisfaction, people extremely satisfied with the helpfulness of the staff at approximately 95%, and only a few people who fairly satisfied with that of staff, at around 5%, followed by library openings hours at 65%; whereas, availability of journals was the most topic that people tend to not satisfied with, present at 20%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of both the chart and the table. You have identified the largest user group and the highest satisfaction rating. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, you mention 'others' as a category but do not provide the specific data points for the remaining groups (part-time students/staff). Furthermore, the description of the table data is slightly confusing; you mention '95%' for helpfulness but do not clearly contrast this with the other categories or the 'not satisfied' figures. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the data points and make clearer comparisons between the categories.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'In terms of', which are appropriate for this task. However, the flow within sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'the most topic that people tend to not satisfied with'. The connection between the two data sets could be smoother; the transition between the pie chart and the table is a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise would help elevate the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, such as 'proportion', 'illustrates', and 'satisfaction'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations, such as 'shared a majority of total' and 'present at 20%'. Additionally, there is a repetition of the word 'satisfaction' in the final paragraph. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that your collocations are natural. For example, instead of 'shared the marginal amount', use 'accounted for a minority'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the proportion of categories library users' is missing a preposition, and 'people extremely satisfied' lacks a verb. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring every clause has a clear subject and a finite verb.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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