Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

The pie chart illustrates the proportion of library users at a university by category, while the table presents the user satisfaction level among the five different aspects of library services.

It is clear that full-time undergraduates form the largest group of library users, while academic staff and distance learning form the smallest group of all. In terms of satisfaction, users are highly satisfied with the helpfulness of staff and least satisfied with the availability of journals and reliability of wifi.

Regarding categories of library users, full-time graduates account for the largest share, at 44%, almost half of users. Full-time postgraduates mark the next largest group, at 25%, a quarter of users, followed by part-time postgraduates, 16%. Academic staff and distance learning students constitute the smallest group, at 8% and 6%.

Turning to user satisfaction, 95% of users are satisfied with the helpfulness of staff, followed by 65% with library opening hours; both services had 0% as not satisfied. Availability of books marks 50% satisfied, with 10% dissatisfaction. By contrast, availability of journals and reliability of wi-fi reported considerably high dissatisfaction at 20% and 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features from both the pie chart and the table. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the highest and lowest categories and overall satisfaction trends. Key data points are accurately cited, such as full-time undergraduates forming the largest group at 44% and staff helpfulness receiving the highest satisfaction at 95%. However, there is a minor numerical slip in the text: the student mentions academic staff and distance learning constitute 8% and 6%, whereas the pie chart shows them as 7% and 8% respectively. Despite this minor misreading, the overall reporting is clear, well-supported, and effectively compares the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear progression from an introductory overview to body paragraphs detailing the chart and the table separately. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data, such as 'In terms of satisfaction', 'Regarding categories', and 'Turning to user satisfaction'. Paragraphing is logical and functional, separating the introduction, category breakdown, and satisfaction ratings effectively. Referencing is generally clear, ensuring that comparisons between different user groups and service aspects are easy to follow. The overall structural arrangement meets the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic task reporting. Phrases such as 'proportion of library users', 'form the largest group', 'account for the largest share', and 'considerably high dissatisfaction' show a good command of functional language. There are occasional slight inaccuracies or awkward phrasings, such as referring to 'full-time graduates' when the data specifies 'full-time undergraduates', but this does not impede communication. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, supporting a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including participial phrases ('followed by part-time postgraduates, 16%') and comparative clauses. There is a good degree of grammatical control, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list items. Minor slips occur, such as the omission of verbs in brief appositive phrases, but these do not impede communication and reflect the constraints of time-pressured task writing. The grammatical range and accuracy comfortably satisfy the criteria for Band 7.

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