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 two maps illustrate how floor plan of the public library looked 20 years ago and how it looks today after a planned redevelopment.

Overall, the library has been modernized, with the reading room replaced by computer room. Several new facilities such as sofas and self service machines have also been added, with tables and chairs moved aside.

20 years ago, the west side of the central library had adult fiction books, with CDs, videos and PC games above it. Adult non-fiction books were kept in the east, followed by childern books that were in the right top corner. Tables and chairs were placed in the middle, with Enquiry desk (tickets, book returns,etc.) aside at the bottom while reading room is located at the left bottom side of library.

Today, library is similar but it has more facilities such as addition of cafe, lecture room storeytelling event portion and self service machines with information desks. Also it hs e

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad change from the earlier layout to the present one and mention several relevant facilities, including the computer room, café, lecture room and self-service machines. However, the overview is not sufficiently accurate or complete: the reading room was replaced by a computer room, but the tables and chairs were removed rather than “moved aside.” The comparison also misses major changes, such as the former CDs/videos room becoming children’s fiction and storytelling space, and the enquiry desk area becoming a café. The final sentence is unfinished, so the description of today’s plan is especially limited. To improve, report the main conversions and the removal or addition of facilities clearly, and check each location against the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overall statement, and separate descriptions of the earlier and current layouts. Directional language such as “west side,” “above it,” and “bottom” helps the reader follow some locations. However, progression becomes unclear in the final paragraph, which lists new facilities without explaining their positions or how they relate to the old plan, then ends abruptly with “Also it hs e.” Some linking is also awkward, as in “with Enquiry desk … aside at the bottom while reading room…” Organise the details into clear comparisons by area or by major change, and complete the final paragraph so the account has a coherent ending.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “redevelopment,” “facilities,” “self service machines,” and “central library,” and the reader can generally understand the intended features. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “childern,” “storeytelling,” and “cafe” are inaccurate, while “PC games” does not match the diagram’s wording as closely as “computer games.” Phrases such as “portion” and “aside” are also imprecise for describing rooms and locations. Aim for accurate labels and natural map-description collocations, such as “located in the north-west corner” or “was converted into.” Proofreading would also catch the unfinished phrase at the end.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple statements and some longer structures, for example “Overall, the library has been modernized, with…” and the sentence comparing the locations of the former facilities. Meaning is usually recoverable, but grammatical control is uneven. The opening omits an article in “how floor plan,” and “while reading room is located” also needs an article. The present-day description shifts awkwardly between forms in “Today, library is similar but it has more facilities such as addition…”; the final fragment is not a complete sentence. There are also punctuation and sentence-boundary issues in the long list of facilities. Use complete sentences, check articles and verb forms, and divide lists into clearer grammatical units.

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

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