Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 and the matrix illustrate the proportion of a questionnaire of library users in the highest educational institute.

Overall, the pie chart shows that the largest group of Library users are full-time undergraduate at 44%, at the same time the lowest ratio is 7% of teaching staff. However, the metrics describes the level of satisfaction of multiple groups where the customer service staff have highest satisfaction level having 95% as well as lowest moderate level which is 5% with 0% not satisfied

The pie chart having 7% of teaching staff proportion and ratio of distance learning is 8%. On the other hand, working graduate student had 8% part of the chart. Meanwhile, 16% were regular postgraduate student and full-time postgraduate had 25% proportion. Finally, full-time undergraduates with highest ratio is 44%.

Furthermore, the matrix shows the level of satisfaction between multiple categories, where services hours category had 65% highly satisfied and 35% moderately satisfied level having 0% of dissatisfaction. For customer services staff 95%, 5%, 0%, respectively. Availability of books had 50% of immensely satisfied proportion along with 40% and 10% of fairly and not satisfied rank. Journal access had 45% of highest satisfaction, 35% of fairly satisfaction, and 20% of dissatisfaction level. Finally, network had 48% of extremely satisfied and remaining two figures are 33% and 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the visual data by summarising both the pie chart depicting the categories of library users and the table illustrating library satisfaction levels. In the overview, the student correctly identifies the largest user group (full-time undergraduates at 44%) and the highest satisfaction metric (helpfulness of staff at 95%). Key features are selected and reported, such as the various percentages for user categories and the breakdown of satisfaction ratings (very satisfied, fairly satisfied, and not satisfied) across different aspects like opening hours, books, and wi-fi. However, the development is somewhat mechanical and lists data points rather than fully synthesizing comparisons, which keeps the score at a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is coherent overall with a clear logical arrangement divided into an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs for the chart and the table. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different visual elements. However, cohesion is occasionally faulty or mechanical, relying on repetitive transitional phrases such as 'Furthermore' and 'Finally'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, for instance in phrases like 'the metrics describes the level of satisfaction of multiple groups where the customer service staff have highest satisfaction level having 95% as well as lowest moderate level which is 5% with 0% not satisfied', which makes the flow slightly awkward. Progression is present, but cohesive devices are sometimes over-used or inaccurate, placing this firmly in the Band 6 category.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'proportion', 'ratio', 'satisfaction level', and 'availability'. There are some attempts at less common lexical items like 'immensely satisfied' and 'dissatisfaction'. However, there are noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'highest educational institute' instead of 'higher education institution', 'metrics' used to refer to a table, and 'working graduate student' instead of part-time postgraduate. Spelling is generally accurate, but awkward phrasing and minor lexical inaccuracies prevent the score from reaching a Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilising relative clauses and introductory prepositional phrases (e.g., 'On the other hand, working graduate student had 8% part of the chart'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the metrics describes') and missing articles ('with highest ratio is 44%'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though some sentences run together or lack necessary verbs ('For customer services staff 95%, 5%, 0%, respectively'). These errors do not impede communication, allowing for a solid Band 6.0.

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