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 mentioned pie chart illustrates the categories of library users and the tabular information elaborates the results of a survey of library users at a university with their satisfaction in terms of percentage.
Starting with the pie chart, maximum number of users are full-time undergraduate students which is 44%. Full time-postgraduate is the second highest category of library users with 25% ratio. Following to remaining types of users, part-time postgraduate is 16%, distance learning (including all the courses) is 8% and academic staff is 7%. Coming on to the satisfactory reviews of library users, helpfulness of staff and library opening hours have maximum satisfaction level, where reviews of dissatisfaction of availability of journals and reliability of wi-fi are maximum. There is fair satisfaction reviews for, Availability of books, availability of journals also.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features of the pie chart, the analysis of the table is quite superficial. You mention 'satisfactory reviews' but fail to provide specific data points or make meaningful comparisons between the categories. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed with sufficient detail and data support. The current length prevents a full overview and a detailed comparison, leading to an under-developed response that does not fully satisfy the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized, starting with an introduction followed by a description of the pie chart and then the table. However, the transition between the two sections is abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, such as 'Starting with' and 'Coming on to'. The paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained within one paragraph, which hinders the logical flow. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider range of linking words and organize your report into distinct paragraphs for the chart and the table to improve the overall structure and readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'maximum number of users' and 'satisfactory reviews'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as '25% ratio' (percentage would be more accurate) and 'fair satisfaction reviews'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data description, such as 'the majority of', 'a significant proportion', or 'the highest level of satisfaction'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repetitive phrasing and demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Following to remaining types' (should be 'Following the remaining types') and 'Coming on to the satisfactory reviews' (which is stylistically weak). There are also issues with article usage and punctuation. The sentence 'There is fair satisfaction reviews for, Availability of books, availability of journals also' is grammatically incorrect and poorly punctuated. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you reach a higher band.
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.