Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20
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 given chart and table illustrates the outcomes of survey conducted on students at university library.
Overall, library has been used by all categories in the university, but mostly utilised by full-time undergraduates and conversely, least preferred by distance learners and academic staff. Whereas, users are mostly satisfied with services of the library.
To begin with the categories of the library users, where full-time undergraduates spend most of their time in library with the proportion of 44%. And followed by full-time postgraduates by 25%. In contrast least used by distance learning students and academic staff with 8% and 7% respectively. Part-time postgraduates give 16% of their time library
On the other hand, students are mostly satisfied with helpful nature of staff 95 percent. 65 percent happy with the opening hours of the library. Half of proportion
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the chart and table, the summary is incomplete. The final sentence is cut off mid-thought ('Half of proportion'), and you have not provided a full analysis of the satisfaction data. To improve, ensure you complete all sentences and provide a comprehensive overview of all data points presented in the prompt. The current response is too brief to fully address the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'To begin with', and 'On the other hand', but the flow is disrupted by the abrupt ending. The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding summary or a fully developed final section makes the overall structure feel unfinished. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear focus and that the response reaches a logical conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'mostly utilised by' and 'helpful nature of staff' are functional but basic. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'Half of proportion', which is grammatically incomplete and imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends and comparisons, such as 'the majority of', 'a significant proportion', or 'the least represented group'. Focus on using more academic collocations to describe data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text. For example, 'The given chart and table illustrates' should be 'illustrate' (subject-verb agreement). There are also missing articles, such as 'in university library' instead of 'in the university library'. The sentence structure is generally simple, and the incomplete final sentence demonstrates a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that all sentences are complete and grammatically sound before moving on to the next point.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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