Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22
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 and table compares the proportion of different categories of library users and their level of satisfaction.
Overall, it is evident that the highest proportion is recorded for full-time undergraduate at 44%. While, 95% of people were very satisfied with helpfulness of staff, followed by library opening hours at 65%.
To begin with, the percentage for full-time undergraduate stood at 44%, which marked the highest figure, followed by full-time postgraduate at 25%. While, the figure for academic staff and distance learning (all courses) accounted for almost same proportion at 7% and 8% respectively. In contrast, part-time postgraduates recorded for 16%.
Moving further, the level of satisfaction is divided into three categories: very satisfied, fairly satisfied, and not satisfied. 95% of library users were very satisfied with the helpfulness of staff, with 0% for not satisfied. Similarly, 65% of people were very satisfied with library opening hours, with 35% fairly satisfied and 0% not satisfied. Moreover, the highest level of users who were not satisfied (20%) with was availability of journals.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The student successfully addresses both parts of the prompt by reporting on the pie chart detailing user categories and the table showing satisfaction levels. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the dominant user group (full-time undergraduates at 44%). Main features and comparisons are correctly highlighted, such as the overwhelming satisfaction with the helpfulness of staff (95%) and the notable dissatisfaction regarding the availability of journals (20%). Figures are accurately cited from the visual data, and key trends are appropriately synthesised without straying into irrelevant detail. This performance meets all the requirements for Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, moves into an overview, followed by distinct body paragraphs dedicated to user categories and satisfaction levels respectively. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well to link ideas, such as "To begin with", "While", and "In contrast". However, there are some minor mechanical links and occasional awkward transitions, such as starting a paragraph with "Moving further," which slightly detract from a fully fluent progression. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two distinct visual sets.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task 1 response, using phrases like "proportion of different categories", "highest figure", and "accounted for almost same proportion". Less common lexical items are attempted, although some word choices and prepositions are slightly unnatural or grammatically awkward, such as "recorded for 16%" (instead of "accounted for 16%" or "stood at 16%") and the phrasing "with was availability of journals". Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses introduced by "while" and "whereas". There are several instances of grammatical inaccuracy, particularly with verb forms and prepositional usage, such as "The pie chart and table compares" (subject-verb agreement error, should be "compare"), "recorded for 16%", and "with was availability of journals". Despite these persistent minor errors, the majority of simple sentences are accurate and communication is never impeded, placing this safely in the Band 6 territory.
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.