Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-07

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 depicts the central library's ground planning 20 years ago and how it looks at present day.

Overall, significant modifications can be seen in the collection of books; at present, very few categories of books can be found in the public reading room. Now ,central library has allotted several infrastructure facilities for offering services, more than 20 years ago.

The main entrance remained the same as compared to the older one. The previous chair & table zone is today used as a free space. The east-south reading room and west-south enquiry desk have been replaced by a computer lab andcafe, respectively. A self-service booth has been constructed along with an information desk and adult fiction books , two decades ago, it was a space for grown-ups

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While you have identified some key changes, such as the addition of the computer lab and cafe, the description is incomplete. Several areas of the library are not mentioned, and the comparison is underdeveloped. To improve, you must ensure all significant features are reported and described in sufficient detail to meet the length requirement. The summary of the 'main features' is too brief, and the lack of detail prevents a comprehensive overview of the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into short paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is somewhat disjointed. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'respectively', but the transition between the description of the entrance and the specific room changes is abrupt. The paragraphing is also quite limited, which makes the text feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive report. To improve, focus on grouping related information together—for example, grouping all the new facilities in one paragraph—and using a wider variety of linking words to guide the reader through the comparison.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use basic terms like 'ground planning' (which is slightly unnatural; 'floor plan' is better) and 'infrastructure facilities'. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'at present day' instead of 'at present' or 'the present day'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'converted into', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'demolished', rather than relying on simple verbs like 'used' or 'replaced'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues, such as the awkward phrasing in '...adult fiction books , two decades ago, it was a space for grown-ups'. The use of commas is inconsistent, and some sentences are slightly fragmented. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct punctuation. For example, avoid placing a space before a comma. Increasing the variety of complex sentences, such as using relative clauses or passive voice to describe the changes, would also help improve your score.

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

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