Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Central Library 20 years ago

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The given diagram illustrates the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Overall, there are number of changes made in the recent years. Different types of things or rooms changes with the passage of time. The central library looks very different now as compared to recent years.

Moreover, CDs, videos ,computer games are replaces with storytelling events, children's fiction books and two sofas. The children's books are changes with the lecture room. The tables and chairs which placed at the center of central library 20 years are terminated now .The entrance are not changeover the period. On the middle right side adult non fiction books are replaces as adult fiction books, information desk and self service machines. On the middle left side all adult fiction books replaces as all reference books.

In addition, On the lower left corner there placed a reading room ( newspaper and magazines ) which changes as computer room today. At the lower right corner their placed a enquiry desk ( tickets, book returns, etc. ) which are known as cafe nowadays.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs, the conversion of the former reading room into a computer room, and the replacement of the enquiry desk with a café. However, the overview is vague: “there are number of changes” does not summarise the main pattern, and the response does not clearly group the changes or highlight the library’s broader reorganisation. Some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the children’s books area became a lecture room, but the response does not mention that the former adult fiction area became the reference-books section. The sentence about the middle-left area also reverses the direction of change. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview to comparisons of the rooms, and it uses some linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “In addition.” This gives the reader a general sense of the topic. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview repeats the idea that the library looks different, while the later details jump between locations without a clear organising principle. Some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “On the middle left side all adult fiction books replaces as all reference books.” Grouping the changes by side of the plan, and using clear contrasts such as “formerly” and “now,” would improve the flow and make relationships between features easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing the plan, including “floor plan,” “entrance,” “reading room,” “computer room,” and “self service machines.” This shows a basic range suited to the task. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, which sometimes makes the comparisons difficult to understand. For instance, “terminated” is not natural for describing removed furniture, and “are replaces” does not express the change correctly. “Things or rooms” is also too vague for a report about specific library facilities. Aim for precise map language such as “was converted into,” “was replaced by,” and “is now located,” while checking word forms and spelling, including “non-fiction” and “café.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, and the main topic is generally understandable. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes obscure which feature changed into which. Examples include “there are number of changes,” “The entrance are not changeover,” and “adult non fiction books are replaces as adult fiction books.” These show problems with articles, subject–verb agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction. Tense control is also inconsistent when comparing the past plan with the present one. Use past simple for the earlier layout and present simple for the current plan, with accurate passive forms such as “was replaced by.” Careful proofreading of sentence boundaries and punctuation would also improve clarity.

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