Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-27
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 data displays the outcomes of the feedback of library users at a university.
Overall, it is clear that the full time undergraduate library users recorded the highest figure in a university. While, the academic staff accounted the smallest share in a university. On the other hand, the remaining categories of the library users hold the levelled off figure.
The pie chart presents that 44% of library users are full-time undergraduates, which is the largest group, followed by full-time postgraduates at 25%. Part-time postgraduates accounted for 16%, whereas distance learners and academic staff make up only 8% and 7% respectively.
In Contrast,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum length requirement of 150 words, as it contains only 102 words and cuts off mid-sentence ("In Contrast,"). While the writer successfully identifies some main features of the pie chart—such as full-time undergraduates representing the largest group at 44% and academic staff accounting for the smallest share at 7%—the overview is vague and contains awkward phrasing ("the remaining categories of the library users hold the levelled off figure"). Furthermore, the response completely omits the second data set regarding library user satisfaction percentages in the table. Because the task is unfinished and lacks adequate development and coverage, it falls into Band 4.0 for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text demonstrates some basic organizational structure with an introductory sentence and an overview. However, because the text is incomplete and cuts off after only three paragraphs, logical progression is severely disrupted. Cohesive devices are used to some extent ("Overall", "While", "On the other hand", "whereas"), but some transitions are clumsy or mechanically applied, such as "While, the academic staff accounted the smallest share". Paragraphing is partially attempted, but the abrupt ending prevents the full evaluation of overall cohesion and structure.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to discuss general percentages and data categories, using terms like "outcomes", "proportion", "largest group", and "respectively". However, there are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as "hold the levelled off figure" and "accounted the smallest share" (missing the preposition "for"). Because the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and contains noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, the lexical resource is characteristic of Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses ("while the academic staff accounted the smallest share"). However, there are grammatical errors, including missing prepositions ("accounted the smallest share" instead of "accounted for") and awkward modifiers ("the full time undergraduate library users"). Because the text is very short, the range of structures demonstrated is limited, and errors prevent higher band placement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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