Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03
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)
This chart illustrates the number of students that access the library at a university. The essay will demonstrate different types of library users and the amount of satisfaction they get being in the library.
Overall, it is evident that the full time undergraduates access library frequently. Whereas, the full time postgraduates are next in line. In addition, part time postgraduates also seen in the vicinity. Meanwhile, the academic staff and distance learning have the similar usage. People are very pleased with the staff. Following to this library schedule is also appreciated my many.
The pie chart categorizes the library users. The full-time undergraduates are 44% since they are usually seen in the hall. Next to them there are full-time postgraduates who are around 25%. Staff has also mentioned that part-time post graduates also occupy the library sometimes, hence they are at 16%. Distance learners and academic staff rarely use the library hence they sit at 7% and 8% respectively.
The users have also rated their satisfactions, where opening hours are appreciated by 65 and 35 are fairly happy. Since the staff is helpful, 95 of the users are extremely happy. The library has wi-fi facility which is rated by 19 people who are not satisfied. Furthermore, people had a mixed rating for the availability of books and journals.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, but the presentation is inconsistent. While you identify the categories of users and satisfaction levels, the data interpretation is flawed. For instance, you state 'opening hours are appreciated by 65', but the chart shows percentages, not raw numbers. Furthermore, the description of satisfaction levels is confusing; you mention '95 of the users are extremely happy', which is not supported by the provided data. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the units (percentages vs. numbers) and focus on comparing the most significant trends rather than listing every figure, which leads to a lack of clear focus.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Following to this' are non-standard and disrupt the flow. The progression of ideas between paragraphs is somewhat disjointed, particularly when moving from the user categories to the satisfaction ratings. While there is an attempt to use linking words, they are not always used effectively to create a logical flow between sentences. Improving the variety and accuracy of transition signals would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'very pleased' and 'extremely happy'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'next in line' and 'sit at 7%'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'a significant proportion'. Additionally, ensure that you use terminology appropriate for data reporting rather than informal language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'part time postgraduates also seen in the vicinity' (missing auxiliary verb) and 'appreciated my many' (preposition error). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'academic staff and distance learning have the similar usage'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small grammatical slips will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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