Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The pie chart illustrates the proportions of different categories of users of a university library, while the table shows their levels of satisfaction with five aspects of the library.

Overall, full-time undergraduates constituted by far the largest group of library users, whereas academic staff represented the smallest proportion. In terms of satisfaction, the helpfulness of staff received the most positive ratings, while the availability of journals and the reliability of Wi-Fi had comparatively lower levels of satisfaction.

Full-time undergraduates accounted for 44% of library users, followed by full-time postgraduates at 25%. Part-time postgraduates made up a further 16%, while distance learners and academic staff represented 8% and 7%, respectively. Thus, undergraduates and postgraduates together comprised 85% of all users.

Regarding satisfaction, 95% of respondents were very satisfied with the helpfulness of staff, with the remaining 5% being fairly satisfied and none dissatisfied. Opening hours also received favourable ratings, with 65% very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied. By comparison, only half of users were very satisfied with the availability of books, while 10% were not satisfied. The figures for journals were lower, at 45%, 35% and 20% for very satisfied, fairly satisfied and dissatisfied users, respectively. Wi-Fi received similar results, with 48% very satisfied, 33% fairly satisfied and 19% dissatisfied.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of both the pie chart and the table. You successfully identified the key trends, such as the dominance of undergraduates in the user base and the high satisfaction levels regarding staff helpfulness compared to the lower satisfaction with Wi-Fi and journals. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons between categories and satisfaction levels are clear and relevant. The overview is well-crafted, providing a concise summary of the most significant findings, which effectively sets the stage for the detailed body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the first provides an overview, the second details the user categories, and the third analyzes satisfaction levels. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'in terms of', 'regarding', and 'by comparison', to link sentences and ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words; the flow is natural and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'constituted by far the largest group', 'represented the smallest proportion', and 'received favourable ratings' show a high level of control. You have used specific terminology accurately, and the collocation is natural throughout. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary choice is sophisticated, allowing for precise communication of the data without any ambiguity. The language is consistently formal and well-suited to the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentences, such as 'Full-time undergraduates accounted for 44% of library users, followed by full-time postgraduates at 25%,' and 'The figures for journals were lower, at 45%, 35% and 20% for very satisfied, fairly satisfied and dissatisfied users, respectively.' Punctuation is used correctly to manage lists and clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur in a longer text are absent here. Your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is excellent.

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