Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-22
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 compares the floor plan of public library in current and how it were in 20 years ago.
Overall, it can be seen that compared to 20 years ago the central library today includes many infrastrucutres and events such as sofa, story telling events, cafe and many more. The central library were divided into only 4 specific room while in current there are many positive changes.
In 20 years ago the central library were more basic and straightforward, it consists mainly 4 rooms and tables and chair in the centre. The rooms include Enquiry desk, Reading room, computer games and childrens books room. Adjacent to tables and chair there is adult non fiction books on right and fiction books on left.
In current the central library has transformed substantially in the field infrastructures. One of the change noticeable is that tables and chair are no longer in building. Moreover, childrens books room is changed lecture room and adult fiction books room is replace by All reference books. Whereas, instead of computer games room the room is expanded and converted into more facilities like sofa, story telling evetnts. There is also cafe added in new library along with selfservice machines, information desk and adult fiction books.
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 covers the main features of the floor plan changes, such as the removal of the central tables and the conversion of specific rooms. However, the description is somewhat imprecise; for instance, stating the library was 'divided into only 4 specific rooms' ignores the layout of the books and seating. The summary of the changes is clear, but the report lacks a more analytical approach to the spatial reorganization. While the key changes are identified, the response would benefit from more precise terminology regarding the library's layout and a more structured comparison between the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the task. There is a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as 'In current' or 'One of the change noticeable'. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which slightly hinders the reader's ability to follow the spatial changes effortlessly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes effectively. There are some spelling errors, such as 'infrastrucutres' and 'evetnts', and some awkward collocations like 'in current' instead of 'currently' or 'in the present'. While the student attempts to use descriptive language, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic phrasing. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary related to architectural changes and spatial descriptions.
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 clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the central library were divided', 'tables and chair are no longer in building') and incorrect prepositional usage. While the meaning is generally conveyed, these persistent errors in basic grammar and article usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. The student should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent tense usage when describing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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