Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14
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 depict the information about conclusions of survey of library users at a university.
Overall, the maximum results in full-time undergraduate, while the minimum in academic staff. In table helpfulness of staff was the highest and availability of journals was the lowest.
In detail, full-time undergraduate had the m by 44% users and 25% in full-time postgraduate, while part-time postgraduate had 16 proportion users. In distance learning users had 8 %, whereas the lowest results by academic staff.
In the case of library user satisfaction, library opening hours 65% very satisfied and fairly satisfied had 35%, while not satisfied was 0%. Moreover helpfulness of staff had 95% satisfied and 5% fairly satisfied, whereas 0% not satisfied. Furthermore, availability of books 50% very satisfied and fairly satisfied 40%, then 10 in not satisfied. Interestingly, availability of journals had 45% very satisfied, while 35% was fairly satisfied and 20% not satisfied. In reliability of wi-fi 48% user was very satisfied and 33% fairly satisfied, whereas 19 was 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 | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the categories of users and the satisfaction levels. However, the overview is somewhat weak and lacks a clear synthesis of the data. While you have identified the highest and lowest points, the description of the data is largely a list of figures rather than a comparative analysis. To improve, you should group the data more effectively to highlight trends or significant differences rather than simply listing percentages for each category. The inclusion of all data points is not necessary; focusing on the most striking features would lead to a more professional summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'while', 'whereas', 'moreover'). Some sentences are disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph, where the flow between the user categories is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the lowest results by academic staff', which lacks a clear subject. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'the maximum results in' and 'the lowest results by' are unnatural and imprecise. You rely heavily on basic descriptors and struggle with accurate collocations related to data reporting. There are also some awkward phrasings, such as '16 proportion users'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary for describing trends, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'a significant proportion', or 'the least represented group'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding sentence structure and missing verbs. For example, 'the maximum results in full-time undergraduate' is an incomplete sentence. You also have issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'in distance learning users had 8%'). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent and distract from the quality of the writing. You should focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb and practice using complex structures more accurately to avoid these basic errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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