Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-10

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 diagram provides an illustration of the floor plan of a central library that how it looks now and how it was 20 years before.

Firstly, the 20 years ago central library diagrams illustrates sections of different amenities.In front of the entance, there are tables and charis right in the middle of the library. And on the left and right sides of these tables and chairs, there are adults fiction and non-fiction books respectively. At the each corner, there is a different room for amenities like enquiry desks, reading room, children books and computer related stuff.

Secondly, the present diagram of central library shows a very structured and well-categorized plan. On the left of the entry point, there is a large cafe. In fron of the cafe, there are self-service machines, information desk and adult fiction books. Lecture room is next to the fiction book section. Although, the children's area is well structured by combining children's fiction books and storytelling events on a single room with sofas on the left and right. There are also computer room and at the right side of the entrance, and in front of it all reference books are placed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify that the library has changed and mention several relevant facilities, including the former central tables, book sections, the current café, self-service machines and storytelling room. However, the response does not give a clear overview of the main changes, and some locations are misreported: the café is at the bottom right, not “on the left of the entry point,” while the computer room is bottom left, not on the right of the entrance. The earlier plan’s “computer related stuff” is also inaccurate; it shows CDs, videos and computer games. Several important changes, such as the removal of the tables and the conversion of the reading room into a computer room, are not clearly compared. Select the major changes and describe their positions accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable two-part structure, moving from the earlier plan to the present one, and signposts such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help the reader follow that broad sequence. Most details are grouped by time period, so the overall arrangement is coherent. However, the account reads more like a list of locations than a comparison, and some links between details are unclear. For example, “There are also computer room and at the right side of the entrance, and in front of it all reference books are placed” makes the spatial relationship difficult to follow. Use clearer grouping by side or area, and connect changes explicitly—for example, state what replaced each former facility. This would make progression more logical and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “floor plan,” “amenities,” “self-service machines,” “fiction” and “storytelling events.” These terms help convey the library’s contents, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “the diagram provides an illustration … that how it looks now” is not idiomatic, and “a large cafe” is factually misplaced as well as imprecise. “At each corner” overgeneralises the locations, while “computer related stuff” is too informal and does not match the earlier plan’s labels. Spelling slips such as “entance” and “charis” also reduce control. Prefer precise labels from the plan and use natural phrases such as “the library’s layout” and “facilities.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast introduced by “Although” and the relative clause in “a room … with sofas.” The main message is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors make relationships between details unclear. For instance, “the floor plan … that how it looks now” has a faulty clause structure, and “At the each corner” uses an incorrect article pattern. In “There are also computer room and at the right side of the entrance,” the noun phrase and sentence construction are incomplete; “Although” also introduces a dependent clause without a complete main clause. Check articles, plural agreement and sentence boundaries, and make sure each sentence has a clear subject and verb. More accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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