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 blueprint illustrates recent changes that modified the library from 20 years ago. It depicts how much the plan has efficiently changed the unused space.

Previously, the library didn't consist of a cafe which was a major change that the library needed, furthermore for children there was a whole room that contained of children's books, in addition reading room and computer games room also existed.

Now this whole structure has changed and modified into a better and efficient manner which leads to effective and better planning. Computer room and cafe are located on the left and right respectively as you enter the library. There is information desk on the right side along with self-service machines and adult fiction books, just right behind the adult fiction books section there is a lecture room, on the top left corner of the library there is a children's fiction books section where occasionally storytelling events are organized, just right outside the room there is all reference books section.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the floor plan changes, such as the addition of the cafe and the relocation of various sections. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention that the library has changed into a 'better and efficient manner,' which is subjective and not supported by the data. To reach a higher band, you should focus on objective reporting, such as noting that the children's area was moved or that the lecture room replaced the previous reading room. The overview is weak; it lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the shift from a more segmented layout to one that integrates modern facilities like the cafe and lecture room.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward. For example, the phrase 'furthermore for children there was a whole room' is grammatically disjointed. The transition between the past and present descriptions is clear, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using more varied linking words. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the location of the reference books is described as 'just right outside the room,' which is ambiguous without a clear subject.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use repetitive phrasing, such as 'changed and modified' and 'better and efficient.' There are also some collocation errors, such as 'contained of children's books' (should be 'contained children's books' or 'consisted of'). While you successfully use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'blueprint,' 'self-service machines,' and 'lecture room,' the overall range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise verbs and adjectives to describe spatial changes, such as 'relocated,' 'converted,' or 'transformed.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For instance, 'the library didn't consist of a cafe which was a major change' is a run-on sentence that lacks proper punctuation. There are also issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'there is information desk' (should be 'an information desk') and 'on the top left corner' (should be 'in the top left corner'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.

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

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