Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24
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 illustrates the proportion of categories of library users while the table shows the percentage of library user satisfaction.
It can be observed that from pie chart, the largest user category was full time undergraduate which was 44%. This was followed by full time postgraduate with 25%. While part time postgraduate students were 16%, distance learning pupils were 8%. The least users were staff who use only 7%.
It can be seen that from the table, users were very satisfied with library opening hours with 65%, whereas 35% were fairly satisfied with it. The maximum people who were very satisfied with helpfulness of staff (95%). Half people with 59% were very satisfied with availability of books while 40% learns were fairly satisfied with it (40%). While 48% students were satisfied with reliability of wifi, 33% were fairly satisfied with it.
Overall, although the minimum academic staff uses a library, majority of people were satisfy with helpfulness of staff.
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
The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the pie chart and the table. You have identified the main features, such as the largest user category (full-time undergraduates) and the highest satisfaction rating (helpfulness of staff). However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive and lacks sufficient comparative language. For instance, while you mention the percentages, you could have more effectively contrasted the categories or satisfaction levels (e.g., noting that staff satisfaction is significantly higher than book availability). The overview is present but could be more analytical to better highlight the trends rather than just listing data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. There is a logical progression from the pie chart data to the table data. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., starting sentences with 'It can be seen that' or 'While'). To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more fluidly, such as 'In contrast,' 'Furthermore,' or 'Conversely,' to show the relationship between the different data sets more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'proportion,' 'illustrates,' and 'satisfaction.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'The least users were staff who use only 7%' is slightly awkward; 'The smallest category of users was staff, accounting for 7%' would be more precise. Additionally, '40% learns were fairly satisfied' is an incorrect use of the word 'learns.' Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise reporting verbs and nouns would enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For instance, 'majority of people were satisfy with' should be 'satisfied with,' and 'the maximum people who were very satisfied' is grammatically incorrect; 'the highest percentage of people' would be better. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct form of adjectives (e.g., 'satisfied' vs 'satisfy') will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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