Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20
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 illustrates the floor plan of a public library 2 decades before and how it appears today.
Overall, the central library has developed with new areas which are computer room, cafe, self service machine, informational desk, all the reference book , sofa corners, children fiction books and storytelling events, however there are some eradication in library are tables and chairs, enquiry desk, children's books, reading room and CDs, videos and computer games.
Today, the major change in library is it become more technology based. The area of enquiry desk has been removed and it covered by cafe. The reading room is converted into computer room, similarly the children's room is into lecture room.
In addition, the area which was covered by CDs, videos and computer game is transformed into children's fiction books and storytelling events with two "L" shaped sofas. The adult non-fiction books was removed and in replacement that area is converted into adult fiction books, information desk and three self-service machines.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response provides a clear overview of the changes, identifying the shift toward technology and the reallocation of space. You successfully highlighted the main features, such as the conversion of the reading room and the addition of self-service machines. However, the summary of 'eradicated' items is slightly confusing because you list items that were simply moved or replaced rather than removed entirely. To improve, ensure your overview clearly distinguishes between areas that were repurposed versus those that were completely eliminated. The report covers all key areas of the floor plan, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use basic cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'similarly' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the list in the second paragraph, which makes the sentence structure feel mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that your referencing (e.g., 'the area which was covered by...') is more precise and less repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the library's transformation.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transformed', 'converted', and 'reallocated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'eradication in library are tables' and 'it covered by cafe'. These errors do not impede communication but show a lack of precision. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations when describing spatial changes, such as 'replaced by' or 'repurposed into'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for layout changes will help you move toward a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction, such as 'the adult non-fiction books was removed' (subject-verb agreement) and 'it become more technology based' (tense consistency). Additionally, some sentences lack articles or prepositions, which affects the overall fluency. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the content, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past versus present states will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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