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 pie chart and table chart define the results of a survey of library users at a university. The given five categories of library users.
To commence with, it is noticeable that first of all the pie chart full-time undergraduate represented the library at 44% users and full-time postgraduate were the second largest category at 25%. Moreover, part-time postgraduate was presented the library at 16% users and distance learning at 8%. Academic staff users the library at 7% only. On the other hand, according to table chart show the 65% satisfied, 35% fairly satisfied and 0% not satisfied in the library opening hours. Later on, in the helpfulness of staff the users 95% satisfied, 5% fairly satisfied and nobody was dissatisfied and in the availability of books at 50%, very satisfied, 40% fairly satisfied and 10% not satisfied. Eventually, availability of journals and wifi 45% satisfied in journals and 48% in wifi and not satidefied at 20% in journals and 19% in wifi.
Overall, it becomes apparent that full-time undergraduate student made up the largest proportion of library users, while academic staff accounted for the smallest percentage. The availablitiy of journals had the highest level of dissatisfaction.
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. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with relevant data. However, the report lacks a degree of analytical comparison; for instance, you list the percentages for library users but do not explicitly compare the groups beyond noting the largest and smallest. Additionally, the description of the table data is somewhat mechanical, listing figures sequentially rather than grouping them by trends or levels of satisfaction. To reach a higher band, focus on synthesising the data—grouping similar categories or highlighting significant contrasts—rather than simply reporting each figure individually.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, some transitions are used awkwardly, such as 'Later on' and 'Eventually', which do not fit the context of reporting data. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences within the second paragraph is somewhat repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used in the correct context will enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information. You use terms like 'proportion', 'category', and 'dissatisfied' correctly. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'define the results' instead of 'illustrate the results', and 'users the library' instead of 'use the library'. There are also spelling errors like 'satidefied' and 'availablitiy'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring accurate spelling of key terms related to data description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The given five categories of library users' is a sentence fragment. You also struggle with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'at 44% users' instead of 'accounted for 44% of users'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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