Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06
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 line chart illustrates a university library users survey results.
It is clear that most of the library users are from full time undergraduate students. And distance learning from all courses are least counted. On the other chart of satisfaction part users are very much satisfied with helpfullness of staff.
Firstly talk about that pie chart most users are from full time undergraduate students by 44%. Then the full-time postgradute are 25% of users. By contrast part-time postgradute are less than full-time which is only 16%. Coming to the distance learners library users from all courses are very less with 8%. Similarly academic staff are also least user by 7%.
Afterwards in line chart it is talking about satisfaction of users. Firstly as we said users are so satisfied with helpfulness of staff that this score is 95% and only 5% of users are fairly satisfied. Secondly 65% users are satisfied with library openong hours and fairly satisfied 35%. Thirdly availability of books , 50% of users are satisfied with books and 40% peoples are fairly satisfied.
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
You have successfully identified the main features of the data, such as the dominance of full-time undergraduates and the high satisfaction levels regarding staff helpfulness. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary of the trends. The description of the data is somewhat mechanical, listing percentages without sufficient synthesis or meaningful comparison between the categories. For instance, while you mention the percentages, you could have grouped the categories more effectively to highlight the contrast between student types. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary paragraph that synthesizes the data rather than just listing facts, and ensure all comparisons are explicitly stated rather than implied.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly'. Some sentences are disjointed, and the flow between ideas could be smoother. For example, the transition 'Afterwards in line chart it is talking about' is quite informal and lacks the academic tone required for Task 1. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use basic phrasing such as 'least counted', 'very much satisfied', and 'very less', which are not standard academic collocations. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'openong hours' (spelling) and 'peoples' (incorrect pluralization). To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'the majority of', 'a significant proportion', or 'the lowest percentage', and ensure you use precise terminology for the categories provided in the chart.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The pie chart and line chart illustrates'), missing articles (e.g., 'on the other chart of satisfaction part'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'academic staff are also least user'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that articles are used correctly before nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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