The chart and table below show the results of a survey of library users at a university.
Sample Response
The pie chart illustrates the composition of users at a university library, while the table reports their satisfaction with five aspects of the service.
Overall, full-time undergraduates made up by far the largest group of users, whereas academic staff represented the smallest proportion. Staff helpfulness received the most favourable ratings, while journals and wi-fi attracted the greatest levels of dissatisfaction.
Full-time undergraduates accounted for 44% of library users. The next largest category was full-time postgraduates, at 25%, followed by part-time postgraduates at 16%. In contrast, distance-learning students comprised only 8% of users, which was marginally higher than the figure for academic staff (7%).
Regarding satisfaction, 95% of respondents were very satisfied with the helpfulness of staff, and the remaining 5% were fairly satisfied. Opening hours also performed well, with 65% very satisfied and nobody dissatisfied. Ratings were less positive for the availability of books, as 10% were not satisfied, although half were very satisfied. The proportions dissatisfied with journals and wi-fi were higher, at 20% and 19% respectively. Moreover, only 45% were very satisfied with journals, compared with 48% for wi-fi.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise phrasing Original: composition of users at a university library Suggested revision: composition of the university library's users Why it matters: This compact possessive phrase identifies the user population more directly.
- 2. Match the table Original: five aspects of the service Suggested revision: five library services Why it matters: The table lists five distinct services rather than general aspects of one service.
- 3. Use natural collocation Original: Staff helpfulness Suggested revision: The helpfulness of staff Why it matters: This is the more natural noun phrase for the service being rated.
- 4. State rates precisely Original: attracted the greatest levels of dissatisfaction Suggested revision: received the highest dissatisfaction rates Why it matters: The table reports respondent percentages, so 'rates' describes this comparison more precisely.
- 5. Describe ratings directly Original: Opening hours also performed well Suggested revision: Opening hours also received positive ratings Why it matters: Services receive ratings, making this more precise than saying the hours performed.
- 6. Keep a formal register Original: nobody dissatisfied Suggested revision: no respondents dissatisfied Why it matters: This phrasing is more formal and consistent with survey reporting.
- 7. Clarify the noun phrase Original: The proportions dissatisfied Suggested revision: The proportions of dissatisfied respondents Why it matters: Adding the complement makes clear that the percentages refer to people.
- 8. Signal the metric shift Original: Moreover, Suggested revision: In terms of very satisfied ratings, Why it matters: This transition explicitly marks the shift from dissatisfaction to very satisfied figures.
- 9. Compare middle ratings Suggested revision: Add one concise comparison of the fairly satisfied shares, noting that books had 40% while the other services ranged from 5% to 35%. Why it matters: The paragraph accurately covers very satisfied and dissatisfied results but largely omits the middle response category.
Suggested Rewrites
- composition of users at a university library composition of the university library's users
- five aspects of the service five library services
- Staff helpfulness The helpfulness of staff
- attracted the greatest levels of dissatisfaction received the highest dissatisfaction rates
- Opening hours also performed well Opening hours also received positive ratings
- nobody dissatisfied no respondents dissatisfied
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response gives a highly coherent and accurate account of both visuals, supported by a clear overview, well-chosen figures and precise comparisons. The main limitation is that the fairly satisfied category is largely omitted, so the table is represented less completely than it could be. The highest-priority improvement is to add one selective comparison of those middle ratings without turning the report into a list of every value.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The report clearly identifies the main patterns and supports them with accurate, well-selected data from the chart and table.
Add one concise comparison involving the fairly satisfied figures to broaden the table coverage while remaining selective.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is logically sequenced, appropriately paragraphled and smoothly connected without overusing cohesive devices.
Preserve this progression while integrating the final journal and wi-fi comparison into an even tighter concluding sentence.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise lexical range conveys composition, satisfaction and comparison naturally and accurately.
Continue developing subtle variation in language for ratings while retaining the current level of precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and simple structures are used flexibly, with consistently accurate punctuation and agreement.
Maintain this high level of control while experimenting with slightly more varied clause openings in data sentences.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The chart and table below show the results of a survey of library users at a university.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.