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 illustrates the data of a inquiry of library users at a university.
Overall, Library was largely occupied by full time undergraduate students, where academic staff was the least to attend. Users in library were heavily satisfied with helpfulness of staff and users were not satisfied with availability of books.
Starting with pie chart which shows users categories to attend library, Full time undergraduate students occupy first position in strength to attend library with 44%, where Academic staff was least to attend with 7%. Moreover, distance learning users were with 8% to attend which was half of Part time postgraduate proportion.
Table shows students satisfaction level with provided facilities, users were heavily satisfied with helpfulness of staff with 95 students, where the major problem was with availability of journals where 20 students were dissatisfied. All students were satisfied with opening hours and staff helpfulness and availability of books and journals with wi-fi facility created a negative impact by students.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the dominant user group and the general satisfaction levels. However, the summary is somewhat superficial. For example, the description of the table is confusing; you mention that 'all students were satisfied with opening hours' but then state that 'availability of books and journals... created a negative impact', which contradicts the data provided in the table. To reach a higher band, ensure that your data interpretation is precise and that you clearly distinguish between the categories of users and the specific satisfaction metrics. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'Starting with pie chart which shows...' is grammatically awkward. Additionally, the progression of ideas within the second paragraph is disjointed, particularly when moving from the pie chart data to the table data. Using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', 'Regarding the table') would improve the flow and logical connection between your sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'to attend library' and 'satisfied with'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'occupy first position in strength' and 'heavily satisfied'. To improve, try to use more academic synonyms for 'attend' or 'satisfied' and avoid repeating the same sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, such as 'The pie chart and table illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'academic staff was the least' (should be 'were'). There are also issues with article usage, such as 'Starting with pie chart' (should be 'the pie chart'). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by errors. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with plurals and articles, will significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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