Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12

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 chart compares the results of a survey of library user at a University and the table compare the results of library user satisfaction. The data is represented in percentages.

Overall, full-time undergraduates showed the highest proportion of library uses, while Academic staff represented the lowest proportion. In contrast, helpfulness of staff showed the higher percentage of very satisfied user, while the availability of books represented the higher proportion of fairly satisfied user. In addition, not satisfied user was much smaller than remaining user.

Looking first at categories of library users, full-time undergraduates recorded the highest figure at 44%, while academic staff recorded the lowest proportion at 7%. Moreover, full-time postgraduate showed the second highest proportion at 25% and Part-time postgraduate users of library represented as 16%.

Then looking at library users satisfaction, helpfulness of staff recorded the highest value in very satisfied use category by 95% and followed by library opening hours and availability of books accounted for 65% and 50% respectively. Fairly satisfied user accounted for 40% in availability of books and availability of journals and library opening hours had showed by same satisfaction percentage at 35. In contrast, library opening hours and helpfulness of staff were categorized by not satisfied user and accounted for 0%. In addition, reliability of Wi-Fi user recorded by 19% in not satisfied category.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main features of both the chart and the table, and making relevant comparisons. In the overview, the writer correctly identifies the highest and lowest proportions for user categories (full-time undergraduates at 44% and academic staff at 7%) and notes key satisfaction trends. Specific data points are appropriately reported in the body paragraphs, such as 25% for full-time postgraduates and 95% for staff helpfulness in the very satisfied category. The information is accurate and supported by the visual data. There is a minor tendency to rely heavily on listing percentages, but overall, the task is fully covered, earning a solid band score of 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into clear paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview, and then two body paragraphs dedicated to the chart and table respectively. Logical progression is generally maintained using transition signals such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'Looking first at', and 'Then looking at'. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Then looking at library users satisfaction' and 'had showed by same satisfaction percentage'. Additionally, referencing is occasionally imprecise, as seen with 'reliability of Wi-Fi user recorded by 19%'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, resulting in a coherent overall arrangement that meets the criteria for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, attempting terms like 'proportion', 'category', 'availability', and 'satisfaction'. However, there are frequent word-choice and collocation errors that hinder precision. Examples include 'library user at a University' (should be 'users'), 'library uses' (should be 'use'), 'very satisfied use category' (should be 'users' or 'usage'), and 'reliability of Wi-Fi user recorded by 19%' (should be 'users recorded a figure of'). The student attempts less common vocabulary but lacks full control over phrasing and preposition use. These inaccuracies do not impede overall communication, placing the vocabulary performance firmly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and comparative structures. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are numerous errors in subject-verb agreement and article use, such as 'the table compare' (should be 'compares'), 'full-time postgraduate showed' (should be 'postgraduates showed'), and 'not satisfied user was much smaller' (should be 'users were'). Furthermore, passive voice constructions are sometimes mishandled, as in 'had showed by same satisfaction percentage' and 'recorded by 19%'. While these errors occur frequently, they rarely impede communication, allowing the writer to achieve a Band 6.0 for grammar.

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