Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-03
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 illustrates the floor plan of a public library before 20 years as compared to today.
Overall, there have been several changes, the most noticeable being the changes in central library in each direction of the room.
Central library 20 years ago was seem different from the present one. moving to the main entrance in the south, the area for Enquiry desk is now converted to cafe which is just near the entrance on the right. However, reading room transformed to computer room which is just lied in the front of cafe , on the left side of entrance. Moreover, Adult fiction books is now adjusted to the right near the cafe which is opened to the door of lecture room.
Moving further, all reference books is placed in the west side of the central library while room for story telling events and sofa area is now have been converted to CDs, videos, computer games in the north-west side of the library. Furthermore, tables and chairs are now not available in the center of the library.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the floor plan changes, such as the conversion of the enquiry desk to a cafe and the relocation of various sections. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main changes are identified, the spatial relationships are occasionally described in a confusing manner, such as the reference to the 'lecture room' which is not clearly contextualized. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant transformations rather than just listing changes, and provide more precise spatial descriptions to help the reader visualize the layout changes effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. While cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'Moving further', and 'Furthermore' are used, they feel somewhat forced and do not always create a smooth transition between ideas. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the location of the new computer room and the adult fiction section. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would significantly enhance the clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'just lied in the front of' and 'is now adjusted to'. The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms, and there is a lack of sophisticated collocations related to describing maps or floor plans. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns, such as 'relocated', 'replaced', 'transformed', or 'designated area', and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'before 20 years as compared to today', 'was seem different', and 'is now have been converted'. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are problematic throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction, correct tense usage for describing changes over time, and subject-verb agreement will lead to significant improvements.
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