Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31
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 results of survey of library users at a university. Noticeably, highest proportion of library members are full-time undergraduates.
In categories of library users, 25% full-time postgraduate use library whereas full-time undergraduates use 44% which nearly double from full-time postgraduates. Moreover, part-time postgraduates have 16 percent library user which is also double from distance learning and academic staff it is 8% and 7% respectively.
In library user satisfaction, helpfulness of staff gets 95% it means very satisfied and 5% fairly satisfied. Whereas, 20% user not satisfied with availability of journals and reliability of wi-fi which were almost double from the user who are not satisfied with availability of books. 65 percent user very satisfied with library opening hours and 35 percent user fairly satisfied with library opening hours.
Overall, library users fully satisfied with library opening hours and helpfulness of staffs and academic staff are least user of library.
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 the main features of the data, including the categories of users and satisfaction levels. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While you mention that full-time undergraduates are the largest group, the summary could be more integrated. Some comparisons are slightly inaccurate or awkward, such as stating '44% which nearly double from full-time postgraduates' (25% is not half of 44%). To reach a higher band, ensure that data comparisons are mathematically precise and that the overview highlights the most significant trends rather than just listing figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'Moreover', 'Whereas'). The progression of ideas is logical, but the transition between the two distinct datasets (categories and satisfaction) could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but some sentences feel disjointed due to the lack of varied linking words. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'double' and 'satisfied'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'academic staff it is 8% and 7% respectively' and 'helpful of staff gets 95%'. Using more sophisticated collocations and precise terminology would improve the score. For instance, instead of saying 'gets 95%', you could use 'received a 95% satisfaction rating'. The range is sufficient to convey the message, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'results of survey', 'use library'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'staffs', 'user not satisfied'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'which were almost double from the user who are not satisfied'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on article usage, pluralisation, and ensuring that comparisons are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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