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 graphs describe the survey which is carried out at a university library and it includes the categories of library users and percentage of their satisfaction.
Overall, the percentage of full time undergraduate has the highest value while the distance learning has lowest one. There is more students who are satisfied with library opening hours while availability of journals has more unsatisfactory level.
There are five categories of library users, in which 44% are full time undergraduate students and just 25% are full time postgraduates, while part time around 16%. The distance learning students and the academic staff are 8% and 7% respectively.
The numbers of satisfactory students in very satisfied category 95% in helpfulness of staff, 65% in library opening timing, about half percent in availability of books while availability of journals and wifi has 45% and 48%, respectively. However,in fairly satisfied category, 40% in books availbilty and only 5% in staff help. The not satisfaied category has 20% in journals availability and 10% in books availability
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 the data, including the user categories and satisfaction levels. However, the reporting is inconsistent. While you identify the highest and lowest user categories, the description of the satisfaction data is somewhat fragmented. For instance, the phrase 'about half percent' is inaccurate and confusing, and the comparison between categories is not always clear. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the 'main features' are highlighted with more precision, rather than simply listing figures. The overview is present but could be more analytical by grouping trends more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'However', and 'respectively' to link ideas. However, the flow within the final paragraph is somewhat mechanical, and the transition between the user categories and the satisfaction data could be smoother. Some sentences feel like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive analysis. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the latter', 'this group') would help avoid repetitive sentence structures and improve the overall progression of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the basic information. You use terms like 'categories', 'percentage', and 'respectively' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as 'availability of journals has more unsatisfactory level' (should be 'a higher level of dissatisfaction') and 'half percent' (which is mathematically incorrect). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to use more varied reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis, such as 'proportion', 'segment', 'fluctuate', or 'predominant'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'There is more students' (should be 'There are more students') and 'the percentage of full time undergraduate has the highest value' (missing a noun like 'students'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with missing commas and incorrect capitalization in some areas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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