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 chart and table illustrate the results of a survey of library users at a university.
Overall, the chart and table provides the information of different categories of library users. The percentage of full-time undergraduate is more than other, followed by full-time postgraduate, and the lowest percentage is academic staff. In the table, there are the satisfaction level of library users, where the proportion of the hospitality of staff is very higher than other availabilities.
According to the chart, full-time undergraduate is the highest percentage of library users by 44 percent, followed by full-time postgraduate which is a half of 50. The lowest percentage of library users was academic staff by 7 percent.
In the table, users were satisfied with various factors, and from them they are more satisfied with helpfulness of staff about 95 percent respectively and 5 percent was fairly, followed by library opening hours about 65%. The lowest and not satisfied by availability of journals which is 20 percent. However, remaining other factors are medium level and fairly satisfied by library users.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the user categories and satisfaction levels. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, stating that the postgraduate percentage is 'a half of 50' is an awkward and unnecessary calculation rather than a clear report of the data. While the main trends are identified, the comparison between categories could be more precise. The overview is present but lacks a strong synthesis of the data, merely listing the highest and lowest points. To improve, focus on grouping related data points and highlighting significant contrasts rather than just listing figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'According to the chart' and 'In the table', but the transitions between sentences can feel mechanical. Some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'from them they are more satisfied', which lacks a clear antecedent. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. Phrases like 'is more than other' and 'is very higher than other availabilities' are grammatically awkward and imprecise. The student relies on basic descriptors and struggles with collocations, such as 'medium level' to describe satisfaction. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'predominant', 'marginal', or 'a significant proportion', and ensure that word choices are contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the chart and table provides' (subject-verb agreement), 'full-time undergraduate is the highest percentage' (should be 'represents the highest percentage'), and 'not satisfied by availability' (missing verb). Punctuation is generally functional, but the control over complex structures is inconsistent. The student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions to improve overall accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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