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 result of a survey , which is related of library users at a university is illustrated by pie chart and table chart.

Overall, it can be seen clearly that , students with undergraduate spend most of the time in library , and the reason of high success is the staff nature inside the library.

To commence with, a quarter of scholars with full time postgraduate spend their time in library , while it has been experienced that 16 percent of student with post time postgraduation used library . Moreover, the percentage of academic staff and distance learning with all courses were approximately identical at 8 percent.

Furthermore, in the survey the percentage depicts that not more than 50 perfect of students were very satisfied with the availability of books, journals as well as reliability of wi- fi , and 65 percent accounted for opening hours of the library . In contrast, the students who were not satisfied with the library was just minimum , which was under 30 percent with the books , journals and because of the internet. The average proportion of the students who were fairly satisfied with hours, books , journals and wifi around 35 percent , whereas just 5 percent of student were not happy with the staff.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you identify the categories of users and satisfaction levels, some data points are misinterpreted or unclear. For instance, the reference to '50 perfect' (likely meaning percent) and the vague description of 'under 30 percent' for dissatisfaction lacks the precision required for a Band 6 or higher. The overview provided in the second paragraph is slightly confusing, as it attempts to link library usage to 'high success' and 'staff nature,' which are not explicitly supported by the provided data. To improve, focus on reporting the figures accurately and ensuring the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than speculating on causes.

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 often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'To commence with' and 'Furthermore' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which data point is being discussed. To reach a higher band, focus on using transition signals more naturally and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that links logically to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'post time postgraduation' and '50 perfect' (instead of percent). The range of vocabulary is limited, and the repetition of basic terms like 'percentage' and 'students' makes the writing feel somewhat restricted. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and ensure that technical terms are used correctly. Focusing on accurate collocations related to data reporting, such as 'a significant proportion' or 'the vast majority,' would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect preposition usage ('related of'), subject-verb agreement errors, and awkward phrasing ('the students who were not satisfied with the library was just minimum'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small grammatical slips would be highly beneficial.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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