Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given pie chart and table illustrate the outcomes of a survey of library with different occupation at a university.

Overall, there are four different users who read the books at university library although among them, the highest proportion is 44% who are full-time undergraduate and contrast with greater percent academic staff shows least percentage of reading books. Meanwhile, distance learning with all courses have only 1% more than academic staff, whereas part-time postgraduate and full-time postgraduate has 16% and 25% respectively.

Furthermore, satisfaction of users with the university library depends on several points about opening hours where satisfied percent is greater than who are not fully satisfied with 35%. On the other hand, satisfaction with staff have 95% and only few people are fairly satisfied with 5%. Availability of books and journals has 10% and 20% dissatisfaction with library where approximately 50% people satisfied and minimum 35% who are just less satisfied. In addition, people who are not satisfied with wi-fi connectivity are 19% and people who have no problem with 48% and user who are not fully satisfied are 33%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to address both parts of the prompt by describing the pie chart regarding library user categories and the table showing satisfaction levels. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, mentioning the main categories such as full-time undergraduates at 44%. However, there are significant inaccuracies in reporting the data: the student states that distance learners have 'only 1% more than academic staff', whereas the chart shows 8% for distance learners and 7% for academic staff. Furthermore, some descriptions of the satisfaction table are confused or vague, such as stating 'satisfaction with staff have 95% and only few people are fairly satisfied with 5%,' overlooking the categories completely or misinterpreting the numbers. While key features are selected, the inaccuracies in data transcription pull the score down to a 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into three paragraphs, including an introductory sentence, an overview/body paragraph for the chart, and a body paragraph for the table. Logical progression is attempted, but transitions between ideas are often awkward, such as 'Furthermore, satisfaction of users...'. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes inaccurately (e.g., 'contrast with greater percent academic staff'). Paragraphing is generally present, but the internal structuring of sentences makes it difficult to follow the relationships between data points smoothly. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which disrupts the overall flow. This corresponds to a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is repetitive and basic, heavily reliant on terms directly copied from the prompt such as 'university library', 'academic staff', and 'satisfaction'. There are noticeable word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'library with different occupation', 'greatest percent academic staff', and 'less satisfied'. Less common lexical items are attempted but are generally inaccurate or unnatural. Spelling is mostly correct, but vocabulary limitations restrict the precision required for an Academic Task 1 response, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures frequently result in grammatical errors and awkward syntax (e.g., 'Overall, there are four different users who read the books at university library although among them, the highest proportion is 44% who are full-time undergraduate and contrast with greater percent academic staff shows least percentage'). There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'part-time postgraduate and full-time postgraduate has'), article usage, and prepositions. While some basic sentences are correct, the frequency of errors in complex structures causes occasional difficulty for the reader, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptor.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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