Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-21
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 shows different proportion of categories of library users while, the second visual is a table illustrates library users satisfaction.
It is evident that full time undergraduate users has the highest proportion while distance learning ( all courses) accounted the smallest proportion. Whereas, in the table helpfulness of staff recorded the highest satisfied percentage. However, availability of books had lowest percentage.
Looking at the pie chart, full time undergraduate accounted for the largest proportion of library users, at 44%. This is followed by the full time postgraduate stood at 25%, while part time postgraduates users represented 16%. Whereas, distance learning and academic staff recorded the smallest proportion just 7% and 6% respectively.
Turning to the table, the helpfulness of staff received the highest level of satisfaction with 95%. Library opening hours ranked second stood at, 65%, followed by the availability of books at, 50 %.
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 pie chart and the table, selecting key data points such as the highest and lowest proportions for user categories and satisfaction levels. An overview is present at the beginning, noting the general trends. However, there are minor inaccuracies in reporting the data; for instance, academic staff is stated as 6% in the body paragraph whereas the transcription and chart indicate 7%. Furthermore, the word count is 147 words, narrowly missing the 150-word minimum requirement. This minor under-length penalty prevents the response from achieving a higher band, resulting in a solid score of 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is coherent overall, with a clear logical arrangement that moves from an introduction to body paragraphs discussing the pie chart and the table separately. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'Turning to the table', 'Looking at the pie chart', and 'This is followed by'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct visual elements. However, referencing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical, and the abrupt ending due to length constraints prevents a fuller conclusion. Nonetheless, progression is easy to follow throughout, matching the requirements of Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', 'represented', and 'satisfaction level'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though minor inaccuracies appear, such as 'second stood at, 65%' where punctuation is awkward, and a slight error in data transcription for academic staff (reporting 6% instead of 7%). Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points clearly without impeding communication, placing the response comfortably in Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses and participial phrases ('full time postgraduate stood at 25%', 'while distance learning and academic staff recorded the smallest proportion'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward punctuation, notably 'shows different proportion of categories of library users while, the second visual is a table illustrates' and misplaced commas around percentages ('stood at, 65%', 'at, 50 %'). Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, reflecting the typical profile of a Band 6.0 response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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