Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07
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 illustrate the outcomes of survey of the categories of the users of library and the table represents the satisfaction of library user at a university.
Overall, the pie chart shows that full time ungraduated people used the library more followed the academic staff who used the library least. The table shows that most of people were very satisfied with the helpfulness of staff and least was satisfied with availability of journals and the unsatisfaction was about 20.
The pie chart shows the percentage of people for the library usage As full time free used 44% followed by the graduated who used 25%.The least user was academic staff to about 7% and the moderate users used from 8 to 16 percent.
The table elaborates the satisfaction of users. The satisfied was about 95% with helpfulness and unsatisfied was zero. The least satisfied was 45% in availability and the unsatisfied was 20 percent
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. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the highest and lowest categories, the comparisons are often vague (e.g., 'moderate users used from 8 to 16 percent'). The description of the table data is also slightly disjointed, particularly the mention of 'unsatisfaction was about 20', which lacks clarity regarding which category this refers to. To improve, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to their specific categories and that comparisons are more precise. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant trends rather than just listing facts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, such as the jump between the pie chart description and the table data. There is a lack of variety in linking words, which makes the flow feel somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of cohesive devices (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'consequently') to connect ideas more fluidly and improve the logical progression between the two sets of data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher score. You rely on basic terms like 'people' and 'used', and there are some awkward phrasings such as 'full time free' and 'ungraduated people' (likely meaning undergraduates). The word 'unsatisfaction' is non-standard; 'dissatisfaction' would be the correct term. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'segment', 'respondents', and 'level of satisfaction'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'most of people were very satisfied' (missing 'the') and 'the least user was academic staff to about 7%'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and ensuring that your sentences are grammatically complete.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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