Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)
The pie chart illustrates the breakdown of university library users across five distinct categories, while the table outlines user satisfaction ratings across five specific library services.
Overall, full-time undergraduates constitute the single largest group of library users, whereas academic staff account for the smallest share. Furthermore, customer satisfaction is highest regarding staff helpfulness and opening hours, while the availability of journals and Wi-Fi reliability receive the highest levels of dissatisfaction.
Full-time undergraduates make up the largest proportion of total library users at 44%, followed by full-time postgraduates at 25%. Part-time postgraduates comprise 16% of the user base, while distance learners and academic staff represent the smallest segments at 8% and 7%, respectively.
In terms of service quality, the vast majority of users (95%) reported being very satisfied with the helpfulness of the staff, with the remaining 5% rating it as fairly satisfied. Opening hours also received complete approval, with 65% very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied, resulting in 0% dissatisfaction for both services. Conversely, the availability of journals recorded the lowest top-tier satisfaction at 45% and the highest level of dissatisfaction at 20%, closely followed by Wi-Fi reliability, which generated a 19% dissatisfaction rate.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights the main trends in both the chart and the table. The selection of data is accurate, and you have successfully made relevant comparisons, such as contrasting the high satisfaction levels for staff helpfulness with the lower satisfaction regarding journal availability. The information is well-supported by the provided figures, and the report is balanced, covering both the user categories and the service quality metrics effectively. No key features were omitted, and the summary is logically structured to provide a comprehensive overview of the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the two distinct datasets (user categories and service quality). Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'furthermore', 'in terms of', and 'conversely' are used naturally and accurately to link sentences and clauses. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure is highly professional and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.5
You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'constitute the single largest group', 'account for the smallest share', 'comprise the user base', and 'recorded the lowest top-tier satisfaction' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choice is consistently accurate and contributes to the formal tone required for Task 1. There are no errors in spelling or word formation, and the use of collocations is natural and precise throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have successfully used a mix of complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('resulting in 0% dissatisfaction') and subordinate clauses ('which generated a 19% dissatisfaction rate'). Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex information, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is flawless, and the writing is error-free, meeting the criteria for the highest band.
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