Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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 given charts illustrate the results of a survey concerning library user categories and thier satisfaction percentum.

Overall, it is evident that the categories of library users itself is seen first using a pie chart alongside the library user satisfaction in percentage with a simple tabular chart.

To initiate with, categories of library users of the least percentage of 7% was academic staff, distance learning (all courses) at 8%, part-time postgraduate is 16% and the most percentages were of full-time postgraduate and full-time undergraduate at 25% and 44% percentages respectively.

Probing further, library user satisfaction is elaborated with people showing satisfaction in percentage with order very, fairly or not satisfied starting with library opening hours 65% and 35%, helpfulness of staff 95% and 5%, availability of books 50%, 40% and 10%, availability of journals 45%, 35% and 20% and at last reliability of wi-fi at 48%, 33% and 19% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main figures from both visuals, including the user-category shares and all five satisfaction rows, and the values you give match the data. However, the response mainly lists figures rather than selecting and comparing the most important features. The overview says what each chart shows, but does not identify key patterns—for example, full-time undergraduates form the largest user group, while staff helpfulness receives the strongest satisfaction and no dissatisfaction. The satisfaction figures are also presented without drawing out contrasts, such as the higher dissatisfaction with journals and wi-fi than with opening hours or staff. This makes the task only partly addressed and the main features under-developed. Add a concise overview of the dominant patterns, then group and compare the most relevant figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph on user categories and a paragraph on satisfaction. This gives the reader a recognisable route through the information. However, progression is limited because the overview mostly restates the chart types, while the body paragraphs present long sequences of figures with little comparison or grouping. Linking phrases such as “To initiate with” and “Probing further” are noticeable but do not clarify relationships between the data. The final sentence is especially dense, listing five categories and multiple percentages in one sequence. Organise the satisfaction results into meaningful comparisons—for instance, staff and opening hours versus books, journals and wi-fi—and use clear references and transitions to show how the figures relate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “categories,” “satisfaction,” “availability,” and “reliability,” and the reader can generally identify the subjects being described. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes the report less clear. “Satisfaction percentum” is not an appropriate expression; use “satisfaction levels” or “satisfaction percentages.” “The most percentages were of” is also awkward, and “at last” is not a natural way to introduce the final item in a data list. There is also a spelling error in “thier.” Aim for precise chart language such as “accounted for,” “the largest share,” and “the proportion who were satisfied,” while avoiding repeated, cumbersome phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the general subject and many figures, but grammatical control is uneven and the sentence patterns are limited. Some constructions are difficult to follow, such as “categories of library users of the least percentage of 7% was academic staff,” where the subject and verb do not form a clear sentence. The overview sentence, “the categories … itself is seen first,” also has agreement and sentence-structure problems. In the final paragraph, the long list lacks a clear grammatical frame, making it hard to see which satisfaction levels belong to each category. Use direct structures such as “Academic staff accounted for 7%” and “For opening hours, 65% were very satisfied and 35% fairly satisfied.” Shorter, well-controlled sentences would improve accuracy; then add some varied sentence forms once these patterns are secure.

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