Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06
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 4.0)
The pie chart illustrate the distribution of different groups of library users at a university while the table presents the data on user satisfaction onfive distinct categories Overall full time graduates show the highest percentage in library users
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
The response falls severely short of the minimum length requirement of 150 words, containing only 38 words. Because of this extreme brevity, the task is addressed only minimally. While the student attempts to introduce the visual data by mentioning the pie chart and the table, the response is cut off after a single opening sentence and a fragmented overview. Key features and comparisons from both the chart and the table are entirely missing. To improve, the student must ensure that all parts of the visual data are fully reported, comparisons are made where relevant, and the writing meets the required word count.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
The text consists of only a few sentences and lacks paragraphing entirely. There is an attempt at an overall structure by mentioning both the pie chart and the table, but the response trails off abruptly without developing a coherent progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are missing due to the extreme brevity of the text. To achieve a higher band, the writer must organise ideas into distinct paragraphs, use appropriate cohesive devices to connect sentences logically, and ensure a clear flow of information from the introduction to the overview and body details.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic and minimally adequate for the task. The student successfully employs some task-appropriate terms such as 'distribution', 'percentage', and 'categories', but there are noticeable errors in word formation and spacing, such as writing 'full time' instead of 'full-time', 'onfive' instead of 'on five', and missing hyphens. Furthermore, the range of vocabulary is severely limited due to the short length of the text. To improve, the student should expand their lexical range with more precise academic vocabulary and pay closer attention to spelling and word division.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The grammatical structures attempted are very limited, consisting of just a couple of run-on sentences. There is a complete lack of punctuation, as the response omits periods at the ends of sentences and commas where needed (e.g., after introductory clauses or before coordinating conjunctions). The verb form in the opening clause ('illustrate' instead of 'illustrates' or 'illustrate the distribution...') also shows a lack of subject-verb agreement. To improve, the student needs to demonstrate a wider variety of sentence structures, include complex sentences with accurate subordination, and apply correct punctuation throughout the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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