Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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)

This chart shows data of the library users at a university. The survey has provided the numbers of readers who visit library. The data indicates that there are five types of visitors at the library.

The bigger portion is of the full-time undergraduate students who are 44 percent of the total number. Following them, full-time postgraduate students stand at the 25 percent in using library for their studies.

There are part-time postgraduate students too in the university. These students are 16 percent of the library users. This study room allows distance learning for all courses and 8 percent of the library attenders are the distance learners.

Moreover, the academic staff also visits the library. It seems there are books for them too. However, they are least in the number. Only 7 percent of visiters are from the staff.

The library is being used by all type of university students as well as the staff. It shows us that the educational stuff at the library is providing knowledge to every learner.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response accurately reports the five user categories and gives the correct proportions for each, including the largest group (full-time undergraduates, 44%) and the smallest (academic staff, 7%). However, the task also includes a satisfaction table, and this is not described at all. As a result, a major part of the visual information is omitted, and the final comments about the library providing knowledge do not summarise measurable survey findings. The opening identifies the subject, but there is no clear overview comparing the user profile with the satisfaction results. To improve, cover both visuals and highlight key contrasts, such as the high satisfaction with staff helpfulness and the lower ratings for journals and wi-fi.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence: it introduces the chart, describes the user groups, and ends with a concluding comment. Paragraph breaks and linking expressions such as “Following them,” “Moreover,” and “However” help guide the reader. However, the progression is limited to one visual, so the satisfaction table has no place in the organisation. Some links are also mechanical or do not clearly express a comparison; for example, “Following them” introduces the next category without explaining the relationship beyond its ranking. The final paragraph repeats the general idea that students and staff use the library rather than synthesising the data. Organise the response into an overview and focused sections covering user categories and satisfaction, using comparisons to connect the main findings.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main user-category figures, and terms such as “full-time undergraduate students,” “part-time postgraduate students,” and “distance learners” are relevant to the chart. There is some attempt at variation through “visitors,” “readers,” and “attenders,” but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, including “the bigger portion,” “stand at the 25 percent in using library,” and “the educational stuff.” “Visiters” is also misspelled. These choices make parts of the description less precise, particularly when reporting proportions. Use standard chart language consistently, such as “account for,” “represent,” and “the largest share,” and choose vocabulary that describes the data rather than adding unsupported claims about what the library provides.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses mostly simple sentence patterns, with some attempts to add clauses, as in “This study room allows distance learning for all courses and 8 percent…” and “However, they are least in the number.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical patterns are inaccurate. For example, “who visit library” needs an article, “the full-time undergraduate students who are 44 percent” is an awkward relative-clause construction, and “they are least in the number” does not form a natural grammatical comparison. There are also issues with agreement and articles in “the academic staff also visits” and “using library.” Aim for clearer structures such as “Full-time undergraduates account for 44%,” and check articles, subject–verb agreement, and comparative forms.

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