Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11
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 chart and table illustrates the results of a survey of library users and satisfaction level at a university.
Overall, In the categories of library users highest share of Full-time undergraduate and at the other hand lowest share of Academic staff. according to library user satisfaction users are very satisfied by Helpfulness of staff and least satisfied by Availability of journals.
According to library users, highest share of 44% by Full-time undergraduate then second highest share of Full-time postgraduate by 25%. remaining three Part-time postgraduate, Distance learning and Academic staff are accounted by 16%, 8% and 7%.
According to library user satisfaction highest user very satisfied by helpfulness of staff by 95%, then least people very satisfied in availability of journals by 45%. In remaining three categories library opening hours, availability of books and reliability of wi-fi is accounted by 65%, 50%, and 48% in the very satisfied category remaining percentage is fairly satisfied and not satisfied
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the main user group correctly: full-time undergraduates account for the largest share (44%), while academic staff are the smallest (7%). You also report several satisfaction figures accurately, including staff helpfulness at 95% very satisfied and opening hours at 65%. However, the response only partly covers the table: it does not report the fairly/not-satisfied figures or compare these meaningfully, and the claim that users are “least satisfied” with journals is imprecise because this refers only to the very-satisfied category. The overview is present but underdeveloped. The response is also one word below the 150-word minimum. To improve, summarise the contrasting satisfaction patterns and include the missing response categories.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph on user categories and one on satisfaction. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and repeated openings such as “According to” make the linking mechanical. Some connections are unclear, particularly “remaining percentage is fairly satisfied and not satisfied,” which does not specify how the figures relate to each satisfaction category. The overview also combines two chart features without developing their relationship. Use clearer topic sentences and connect comparisons explicitly—for example, contrast the high satisfaction with staff helpfulness against the more divided views of journals and wi-fi. More precise referencing would make the information easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant task vocabulary, including “categories,” “share,” “satisfaction,” and “availability,” and the reader can generally understand which groups and services you mean. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated or awkwardly collocated, such as “highest share of” and “highest user very satisfied by.” “Least people very satisfied” is also an imprecise way to describe the lowest proportion in that response category. These choices make the report sound less natural and sometimes blur the comparison being made. Aim for concise, conventional chart language and vary the phrasing: for example, use “accounted for,” “the largest proportion,” or “the highest level of satisfaction.” Check that each phrase accurately names the measure being compared.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response communicates its main points, but grammatical control is inconsistent and sentence structures are mostly simple or faulty attempts at longer forms. The opening says “The chart and table illustrates,” where the plural subject requires “illustrate.” In the overview, “highest share of Full-time undergraduate” lacks an article and a complete comparison structure, while “at the other hand” is not a correctly formed construction. The final sentence also shifts awkwardly between singular and plural forms: “categories … is accounted.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, including the capitalised “In” after a full stop. Practise complete comparative sentences with accurate subject–verb agreement and articles, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and verb.
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.