Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-15
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)
There are two diagrams which demonstrates the map of cental library. First diagram represents the map of central library 20 years ago and the second digram represents the map of central library in present state. There are various changes in the rooms .
The central library 20 years ago had a enquiry desk on it's right handside to the entrance and a reading room to the right handside of the entrance where people could read newspapers and magazines . If you go straight from the entrance there are two round tables with chairs surrounding it providing the people of library a place to sit. Moreover, to the left side of last table in the library you could see a room for children's books where children could find their books and to the lefthand side is the room for CDs, videos and computer games.
The central libraby today ,however have a cafe to the right handside of the entrance instead of Enquiry desk and a computer room to it's bottom left corner. There are tables and chairs in the present central library and also the adult fiction books corner in the left side of library is replaced with the reference books .At the end of library, place is now reserved for story telling events with the children's fiction books and a lecture room at it's other end.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the floor plans, identifying key changes such as the addition of the cafe and the relocation of specific rooms. However, the overview is missing; a successful Task 1 response must include a clear summary of the most significant trends or changes. The description is somewhat repetitive and relies heavily on listing locations rather than synthesizing the information. To reach a higher band, you should group the information more effectively and provide a clear, concise overview of the overall transformation of the library space.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'to the right handside', 'to the left side'). The progression of ideas is clear, but the transition between the two time periods could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of varied linking words makes the flow feel a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of cohesive devices will help the text read more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several spelling errors (e.g., 'cental', 'digram', 'libraby') and some awkward phrasing, such as 'bottom left corner' or 'people of library'. The range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms. To improve, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to floor plans and spatial descriptions, and ensure you proofread for basic spelling mistakes, which occur frequently in your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('There are two diagrams which demonstrates', 'The central library today, however have') and incorrect preposition usage ('to the right handside of the entrance'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with commas and apostrophes (e.g., 'it's' used incorrectly for 'its'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and basic punctuation rules will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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