Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-08
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 two diagram compares the floor plan of a public library 2 decades ago and how it looks in the contemporary time.
Over all, todays room was better equipped comparing to the room 2 decades ago. Regarding the central library 2 decades ago there was a enquiry desk on the left side of the entrance to book tickets and to return books. However, in the todays library it was replaced by an cafe for relaxation while reading. On the right side of the library before there was a reading room to read magazines and newspapers. Nevertheless, it was replaced by computer room in todays library which indicates modernization and introduction of e-books despite the old printed books. There was tables an chairs in the central of the library before but it was removed later. 20 years ago in the central right side there is a book shelf filled with adult non-fiction books, where it was later replaced by Adult fiction books with information desk and self-service machines like vending machines for emergency snacks. 2 decades ago in the central left side there was room filled with adult fiction books. By contrast, today's library, which was replaced by Ai reference books for easy access. Turning to the top left corner room it was usually to increase children's vocabulary which was replaced by lecture room today. Before, children use to play video games despite reading in the top left corner room. However, today it was replaced by story telling events and children's fiction books to improve children's vocabulary with build in sofa.
In conclusion, today's room was more equipped with different facilities and services in comparison to the room that was built 20 years ago.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all the main features of the floor plan changes, including the replacement of the enquiry desk, the reading room, and the reconfiguration of the book sections. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the major trends, such as the shift from a traditional reading space to a more social and digital-focused environment. While the key changes are identified, the reporting is occasionally cluttered with minor details that obscure the main comparisons. To reach a higher band, focus on grouping the information more logically—for example, by categorizing changes into 'social spaces' versus 'study/resource areas'—rather than listing every change in a linear, room-by-room fashion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between sentences is often mechanical. You rely heavily on basic transition words like 'However' and 'Nevertheless' to start almost every sentence, which makes the writing feel repetitive. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for instance, 'it was replaced by' is used repeatedly without always clearly identifying the subject being replaced. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that pronouns or referencing phrases clearly point back to the specific area of the library you are discussing. The overall progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of sophisticated linking devices limits the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'modernization', 'reconfigured', and 'facilities'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'contemporary time' instead of 'the present day' or 'Ai reference books' (which is likely a misinterpretation of the diagram). There are also minor errors in word form, such as 'today's room' instead of 'the library'. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that your terminology accurately reflects the visual data provided.
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 the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('The two diagram compares'), incorrect article usage ('an cafe'), and awkward phrasing ('there was tables an chairs'). While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain errors in tense or structure, such as 'where it was later replaced by'. To improve, focus on basic accuracy, particularly with pluralization and verb tenses, and ensure that your sentence structures are grammatically sound before attempting more complex constructions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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