Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01
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 and table show the information about the categories of library users at a university.
Overall, full-time undergraduate students were the largest group of library users, while the distance learners represented the smallest proportion. In addition, most of the users were satisfied with library open hours; nobody reported being dissatisfied. The twenty students were not satisfied by the availability of journals.
According to the pie chart, full-time undergraduates accounted for 44% of all library users, making them the biggest category. Full-time post-graduate were the second-largest category. Part-time postgraduate represented 16%, while distance learners accounted for 8% and the academic staff was the lowest category.
The students were very satisfied by helpfulness of staff while, the availability of books in library was good. The availability of wi-fi in library was only satisfied.
Therefore, that the result indicate the library opening hours were generally viewed positively by university library users
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 both the chart and the table, identifying the largest and smallest groups and summarizing the satisfaction levels. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention that full-time undergraduates were the largest group, you fail to provide the specific percentages for all categories, such as academic staff, which would have strengthened the comparison. Additionally, the description of the satisfaction survey is slightly disjointed; you mention 'twenty students' were dissatisfied with journals, but it is unclear if this refers to a specific number or a percentage from the data provided. To improve, ensure all data points are clearly linked to the categories they represent and provide a more comprehensive overview of the trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding sentence. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'According to', which help the flow of information. However, the progression between sentences is sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the pie chart data and the satisfaction table is abrupt. The final sentence, 'Therefore, that the result indicate...', is grammatically awkward and does not function well as a cohesive summary. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'satisfied'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, you write 'the academic staff was the lowest category' (should be 'smallest group') and 'the availability of wi-fi in library was only satisfied' (which is unclear). There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptive language. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and proportions, and ensure that your word choices are natural and contextually appropriate.
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 detract from the quality of the writing. For instance, 'Full-time post-graduate were' (missing an 's' for plural), 'satisfied by helpfulness of staff' (missing an article 'the'), and 'Therefore, that the result indicate' (incorrect sentence structure). These errors occur frequently enough to be noticeable but do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically complete.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.