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 distribution of library users at a university across five categories, while the table details their levels of satisfaction regarding five specific library services.

Overall, full-time undergraduates constituted the vast majority of library users, whereas academic staff represented the smallest group. In terms of user feedback, staff helpfulness and opening hours received the highest satisfaction ratings, while journal availability and wi-fi reliability registered the highest levels of dissatisfaction.

Regarding user demographics, full-time undergraduates accounted for nearly half of all library users at 44%. Full-time postgraduates formed the second-largest segment at 25%, followed by part-time postgraduates and distance learning students, who comprised 16% and 8% respectively. In contrast, academic staff made up the lowest proportion, at just 7%.

Turning to service satisfaction, the helpfulness of staff was the most highly rated feature, with 95% of respondents reporting they were "very satisfied" and zero dissatisfaction. Similarly, library opening hours satisfied all respondents, with 65% "very satisfied" and 35% "fairly satisfied." Conversely, availability of journals and wi-fi reliability caused the greatest dissatisfaction, recording "not satisfied" figures of 20% and 19% respectively. Finally, book availability displayed moderate feedback, with 50% of users very satisfied, 40% fairly satisfied, and 10% unsatisfied.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified and reported the main features of both the pie chart and the table. The overview clearly highlights the key trends, such as the dominance of full-time undergraduates and the contrast between high satisfaction with staff/hours and dissatisfaction with journals/wi-fi. You have made effective comparisons throughout, such as contrasting the satisfaction levels of different services. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the data is used accurately to support your points. The information is well-selected and logically presented, meeting all the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In terms of', 'In contrast', 'Turning to', and 'Conversely', which help the reader navigate the text smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the demographic data from the satisfaction survey results. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the flow between sentences is natural and unobtrusive. The structure is professional and follows the standard conventions for an Academic Task 1 report perfectly.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'constituted the vast majority', 'formed the second-largest segment', and 'registered the highest levels of dissatisfaction' show a high level of lexical control. Your word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic context. There are no spelling errors, and collocations are used naturally throughout the text. You have successfully avoided repetition by using varied synonyms and structures to describe the data, which is a hallmark of a high-level response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammatical control is excellent. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and participial phrases, with high accuracy. For example, 'Full-time postgraduates formed the second-largest segment at 25%, followed by part-time postgraduates and distance learning students, who comprised 16% and 8% respectively' is a complex, error-free sentence. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few structures used are handled with full flexibility.

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