Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-14

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 visual shows a comparison between the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

The plan shows that 20 years ago when you enter in the library there was different tables and chairs are placed for the reader to sit. To the write of main entrance door was an enquiry desk and next to it was an adult non-fiction books section followed by the children'sbooks section.To the left of entrance there was a reading room followed by Adult's fiction books and CDs, videos and computer games section.

Now, new ammendments made. A cafe is formed at the place of enquiry desk followed by the Information desk. Self service machines are introduced. A computer room is made at the left of the entrance followed by the reference books section and room where story telling events happened and also have children's fiction books.

Lecture room is introduced in the new plan which was not the part of the 20 years ago floor plan.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the task as a comparison and report several genuine changes, including the new café, information desk, self-service machines, computer room and lecture room. However, the response only partially covers the plans: it gives no clear overall summary of the main transformation, and some locations or relationships are unclear. For example, the old plan’s central tables and chairs are mentioned, but their removal is not explicitly contrasted with the present layout. The current children’s area is also described as a room for storytelling, but the two sofas are omitted, while the former CDs/videos/games room is not clearly accounted for as having become the children’s fiction/storytelling room. Focus on the most significant changes and state them accurately and explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly sensible order, moving from the former layout to the current one, and uses basic links such as “To the left,” “followed by” and “Now.” This gives the reader some help in tracing the plan. However, the information is compressed into two long paragraphs, with no distinct overview, and several linked features become difficult to follow. For instance, the sequence “To the write of main entrance door was an enquiry desk and next to it was an adult non-fiction books section followed by the children'sbooks section” does not clearly distinguish adjacent areas from rooms further along the plan. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and details, and organise each plan by side or area with clearer location references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “enquiry desk,” “adult non-fiction,” “self service machines” and “lecture room.” These terms make the main subject understandable. However, the range of language for describing changes and locations is limited, and some word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward, such as “new ammendments made,” “a cafe is formed” and “different tables and chairs are placed.” There are also spelling and spacing slips, including “ammendments” and “children'sbooks.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the general message, but they reduce precision. Practise standard map-description phrases such as “was replaced by,” “was converted into” and “is located in the north-west corner.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences, and the past-versus-present contrast is generally apparent. However, grammatical errors are frequent, and some sentence structures are faulty enough to make relationships harder to understand. For example, “when you enter in the library there was different tables and chairs are placed” mixes tenses and clauses, while “A cafe is formed at the place of enquiry desk followed by the Information desk” lacks clear grammatical control of the sequence. There are also errors in articles, agreement and sentence boundaries, as in “To the left of entrance there was a reading room.” Aim for shorter, complete sentences and check tense consistency, articles and subject–verb agreement before combining ideas.

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

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