Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-11

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 5.0)

The diagram illustrates the central library's floor plan, how it used to look 20 years ago and central library today.

It is clear that a number of major changes were made to the floor of that public library. These include removing chairs and tables form centre, adding self-service machines, relocating the adult fiction books, turning enquiry desk into a cafe and so on.

Looking at the present library in more detail, we can see that there are four rooms each are located in corners of that floor. The computer room is in the left side from the entrance, moreover, there is a new cafe in the right hand side from the entrance. These two rooms use to be reading room and enquiry desk, respectively.

The other two rooms are lecture room, which is located exactly opposite of the cafe,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the topic and mention several relevant changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs, the addition of self-service machines, and the conversion of the former enquiry-desk area into a café. However, the response is incomplete and covers only a small part of the plans. The final sentence breaks off after “the other two rooms are lecture room,” and important present-day features—such as the children’s fiction/storytelling room, reference books, and the information desk—are not explained. Some details are also inaccurate or unclear: the café occupies the former enquiry-desk area, but it is not described as a room in the same way as the computer room. The response is 11 words below the required minimum. To improve, give a complete overview and compare the main changes across both plans.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introduction is followed by a general summary and then a paragraph about the present layout. Linking expressions such as “These include” and “Looking at the present library in more detail” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, the progression is not sustained because the final paragraph ends mid-sentence, leaving the comparison unfinished. The sequence of details is also difficult to follow: the response moves from general changes to corner rooms, then begins listing the remaining rooms without completing the point. Some connections, such as “moreover,” do not clearly show the relationship between the two locations. Grouping changes by area or by old-versus-new use, and completing each comparison, would make the account more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a plan, including “floor plan,” “relocating,” “self-service machines,” and “located exactly opposite.” These choices communicate several relevant changes, and the meaning is generally recoverable. Some wording is imprecise or awkward, however. “Turning enquiry desk into a cafe” does not accurately describe the change as clearly as “replacing the enquiry desk with a café,” while “in the left side from the entrance” is not a natural way to describe position. There is also a spelling error in “form centre,” and “use to be” is not the intended written form. Aim for precise location phrases such as “to the left of the entrance” and consistent labels matching the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple statements and some attempts at more complex structures, for example, “These two rooms use to be reading room and enquiry desk, respectively.” The opening sentence also attempts to introduce a comparison across time. However, some grammatical errors affect clarity. In “there are four rooms each are located in corners,” the relative structure is faulty; write “there are four rooms, each located in a corner.” The sentence “The other two rooms are lecture room, which is located exactly opposite of the cafe,” has problems with number agreement and is incomplete. Articles and prepositions also need attention, as in “in the left side from the entrance.” Use complete sentences, check singular and plural forms, and proofread each sentence for its grammatical links.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.