Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The pie chart illustrates the composition of library users at a university, categorised according to their mode and level of study, while the accompanying table summarises users’ satisfaction with five different aspects of the library.

Overall, full-time undergraduates represented by far the largest proportion of library users, whereas academic staff accounted for the smallest group. With regard to satisfaction, the helpfulness of library staff received overwhelmingly positive feedback, while the availability of journals was the aspect that attracted the highest level of dissatisfaction.

Full-time undergraduates constituted 44% of library users, almost twice the proportion of full-time postgraduates, at 25%. Part-time postgraduates accounted for a further 16%, meaning that these three groups together represented 85% of all users. The remaining 15% comprised distance-learning students, at 8%, and academic staff, at 7%.

The table indicates that staff helpfulness was rated most favourably, with 95% of respondents describing themselves as very satisfied and the remaining 5% as fairly satisfied. Library opening hours also received positive evaluations: 65% were very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied, with no users reporting dissatisfaction.

The other three aspects generated comparatively less favourable responses. Exactly half of respondents were very satisfied with the availability of books, while 40% were fairly satisfied and 10% were dissatisfied. Satisfaction with the availability of journals was lower still, with corresponding figures of 45%, 35% and 20%. Finally, 48% of users were very satisfied with Wi-Fi reliability, compared with 33% who were fairly satisfied and 19% who were not satisfied.

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. Your overview effectively highlights the most significant trends, such as the dominance of full-time undergraduates and the high satisfaction with staff helpfulness compared to the lower satisfaction with journals. You have selected relevant data points to support your descriptions and made clear comparisons throughout the text. The information is accurate and well-integrated, demonstrating a clear understanding of the data provided. No parts of the prompt were overlooked, and the response is well-structured for an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the two distinct data sets (the chart and the table), which makes the information easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'with regard to', 'meaning that', and 'the remaining' are used naturally and accurately to link sentences and clauses. The transition between the general overview and the specific details is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, and the overall structure is highly coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary, which is used with natural control. Phrases such as 'composition of library users', 'overwhelmingly positive feedback', 'constituted', and 'comparatively less favourable' show a sophisticated command of language. You avoid repetition and use collocations accurately. The vocabulary is well-suited to the formal, academic tone required for this task. There are no errors in word choice or spelling, and the range of lexical items allows for precise communication of the data trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences, participial phrases, and accurate use of comparative structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. For example, the use of commas to set off clauses and the correct application of semicolons and colons demonstrate high grammatical competence. There are no noticeable errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, or word order. The writing is fluent, and the grammatical complexity is consistent with a high-level performance.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.