Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09
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 given pie chart and table illustrates the outcomes of a survey of library utilizers at the university.
Overall, chart shows the various categories of library users where full-time undergraduate were considerably more than others. By contrast, academic staff were considered as negligible. The table compares the level of satisfaction by the library users where the utilizers were pleasure by helpfulness.
On the one hand, approximately 44% learners from full-time undergraduate used library which was extremely high than others. However, distance learning and academic staff utilized library for 8%, 7% respectively. The remaining users used by 25% and 16% in the postgraduate and part time post graduate.
On the other hand, 95 utilizers were satisfied by the library where they were fulfilled by the helping nature of staff. Meanwhile, 40 were fairly delighted by the books availability and 20 were not contented from journals. Finally, most of the users were gratified by opening hours, wi-fi however few users showed dissatisfaction and fairly satisfaction from it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of both the chart and the table. You have identified the largest user group (full-time undergraduates) and the satisfaction levels. However, the reporting of data is sometimes inaccurate or confusing. For example, you state '95 utilizers were satisfied', but the table likely refers to percentages or specific counts that are not clearly contextualized. Additionally, the description of the table data is somewhat disjointed, and the comparison between categories could be more analytical. To improve, ensure that data points are clearly linked to the categories provided in the prompt and avoid vague descriptors like 'fairly delighted' or 'not contented'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', and 'On the other hand'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'the utilizers were pleasure by helpfulness'). The transition between the pie chart data and the table data is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the information presented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward word choice and non-standard collocations. For example, 'library utilizers' is repetitive and 'utilizers were pleasure by' is grammatically incorrect. You also use 'gratified' and 'contented' in contexts where they do not fit naturally. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'respondents', 'proportion', or 'indicated'. Avoid inventing phrases; instead, use standard collocations like 'expressed satisfaction with' or 'the majority of users'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb forms and prepositions. Examples include 'chart shows' (missing article), 'full-time undergraduate were' (missing plural), and 'used by 25% and 16%' (incorrect passive construction). While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are persistent and distract from the quality of the writing. You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. To improve, practice using a mix of complex sentences and ensure subject-verb agreement and correct article usage, which are essential for higher band scores.
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.