Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-16

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 maps depicts the development of a public library over the period of 20 years.

Overall, the area has more modernized and well-organized, substantial changes are developed, including the construction of self-service machines, although the computer room, Lecture room and café are redesigned or replaced.

Regarding pervious layout, the left side of the area, it can be noticed that CDs, video, computer games were presented. To the Northwest side, adult fiction books were located, meanwhile the opposite side, adult non-fiction books were displayed. In the middle of the map, tables and chairs were located. The Northeast side, children's books were represented.

Turning to the present layout, there are several significant changes. Children's books have converted into lecture room. Bottom of the lecture room, The area have expanded and add self-service machines and information desk. Reading room has transformed into computer room. In the center of map, tables and chairs are demolished. The computer room has changed with

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a general overview and attempts to describe the changes, but it fails to complete the task. The final paragraph is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'The computer room has changed with', which leaves the description of the library's current state unfinished. While you identified some key features, such as the lecture room and self-service machines, the lack of a complete conclusion and the incomplete sentence structure significantly hinder the overall task completion. To improve, ensure you fully describe all major changes and provide a coherent summary of the transformation without leaving sentences hanging.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is disrupted by the incomplete final sentence. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Regarding pervious layout' and 'Turning to the present layout', but they are sometimes used with grammatical errors (e.g., 'pervious' instead of 'previous'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between the description of the past and present is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph concludes logically before moving to the next point.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors. For example, you used 'pervious' instead of 'previous', 'converted into' when referring to a space, and 'demolished' to describe the removal of furniture, which is slightly too strong for a library floor plan. While you successfully used terms like 'modernized' and 'well-organized', the range is limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to describing maps and floor plans, such as 'relocated', 'replaced by', or 'transformed into'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The maps depicts', 'The area have expanded') and incorrect preposition usage. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the attempt at a complex structure in the final sentence resulted in an incomplete thought. There is a lack of control over basic grammar, such as article usage ('In the center of map'). To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic sentence completion and punctuation errors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.