Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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 the table illustrate the percentage of categories of library users and their satisfaction at a university. The library users categories and their satisfaction proportions, both are divided into five levels.
Overall, full time undergraduate users are high and the least proportion of the library users are from Academic staff. Helpfulness of staff is the highest and much satisfaction level from the users and not satisfied users with low proportion.
Full-time graduates are 44% and the least proportion is from the Academic staff 7%. Distance learning users are 1% higher than the Academic staff users, with 8%. Part-time postgraduate and full-time postgraduates are the moderate users (16% and 25%).
The satisfaction level, highest percentage is from helpfulness of the staff with 95%, fairly satisfied with 5% and the not satisfied with 0%. Least satisfaction level is found in availability of journals with 45%, 35 with fairly satisfied and 20% with not satisfied. reliability of wi-fi satisfaction is 48%, fairly satisfies is 33% and not satisfied is 19%. Library opening hours and availability of books are more or less same with minor difference (very satisfaction-65% and 50%, fairly satisfied 35% and 40%, and 0% not satisfied)
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have successfully identified the main features of both the pie chart and the table, providing a clear overview. You included relevant data points to support your descriptions. However, the response lacks a clear, cohesive structure. The overview is somewhat disjointed, and the comparison between categories could be more analytical. For example, you mention that 'full time undergraduate users are high' without specifying the percentage clearly in the overview. To improve, ensure that your summary highlights the most significant trends or contrasts rather than just listing figures. The data is generally accurate, but the presentation of the satisfaction levels could be more streamlined to better highlight the differences between the categories.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often weak. You use some cohesive devices, but they are sometimes used mechanically or incorrectly, such as 'The library users categories and their satisfaction proportions, both are divided into five levels.' The transition between the user categories and the satisfaction levels is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' 'Regarding the satisfaction levels') to guide the reader through your analysis. Ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to improve the overall progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision. You frequently use basic terms like 'high,' 'least,' and 'proportion.' Phrases like 'more or less same' are informal and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data analysis, such as 'predominant,' 'marginal,' 'fluctuate,' or 'account for.' You also have some minor errors in word choice, such as 'very satisfaction' instead of 'very satisfied.' Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs will help you convey information more precisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'full time undergraduate users are high' (which should refer to the percentage) and '35 with fairly satisfied' (missing the percentage sign or a clearer structure). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors and try to vary your sentence structures by using more complex clauses. Ensure that your comparisons are grammatically complete to avoid ambiguity, especially when discussing percentages and satisfaction levels.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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