Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-04
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)
Summarization of central library
Central Library 20 years ago
there were three rooms. In the middle of library tables and chairs were placed there in front of main entrance. in north there were non-fiction books. In the south there were adult fiction books. From main entrance on sharp left side there were reading room there were newspapers and magazines
On east side corner there were CDs, videos, computer games room. on north corner there were a room for children's books.
From main entrance on right side there were enquiry desk (tickets books ,return , etc)
Central Library today
from the entrance of library there is a big hall from the entrance there is a computer room on left side corner.
On right side of entrance there is a cafeteria which was not in the library 20 years ago then in hall north side corner have a lecture room and between the cafeteria and lecture room there is information desk with wall of lecture room there is adult fiction books on west side of information desk there is self service machine.
on left side of computer room there are all reference books. on south left corner there is a room on the entrance of room there is a sofa in front of the door and on left side of door there is children's fiction books and in front of story telling events there is another sofa on left corner on room
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the changes in the library floor plan; however, it lacks a clear overview or summary of the main trends, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is fragmented and relies heavily on listing locations without synthesizing the information. For instance, the transition from '20 years ago' to 'today' is abrupt, and the report fails to highlight the most significant changes, such as the shift from a book-focused layout to one incorporating a cafeteria and digital resources. The information is presented as a series of disjointed observations rather than a cohesive report, leading to an under-developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a logical structure. It is divided into two sections, but the internal organization within these sections is chaotic. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; sentences are often strung together without logical connectors. For example, the description of the library today jumps between locations ('from the entrance... on left side... on right side... then in hall north side') without a clear spatial progression. Paragraphing is inconsistent, and the lack of an introduction or a concluding summary makes the text difficult to follow. Referencing is often unclear, making it hard for the reader to visualize the layout.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple directional language ('on the left', 'on the right', 'in the middle'). There is little attempt to use more sophisticated or precise terminology related to floor plans or architectural changes. Phrases like 'there were three rooms' and 'there is a big hall' are functional but lack the descriptive precision expected at higher bands. Some word choices are awkward, such as 'with wall of lecture room there is adult fiction books', which obscures the intended meaning. The range of vocabulary is limited to the immediate context of the diagram.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in north', 'on east side corner'), incorrect prepositions, and subject-verb agreement issues ('there were a room', 'there is adult fiction books'). Sentence structures are predominantly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also problematic, with inconsistent capitalization and missing commas, which occasionally makes the text difficult to parse. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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