Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24
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 picture of the floor plan of library in past and present .
Overall, there so many changes that can take place during the period of 20 years the foremost one is removal of tables and chairs from center of the library.
To begin , the west corner of the library where CDs , videos and computer games was placed now converted into storytelling events room and new sofa and children's fiction books were also placed there. Moving further, computer room is build in the place of reading room . Apart from this , a new cafe is introduce in the place of enquiry desk .
Moreover, the place where children's books was placed now converted to lecture room .However, middle of right hand side of library where adult non fiction books was placed now information desk and self service machines are also placed. The main entrance of the library remains same.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response provides a clear overview and identifies the main changes, such as the removal of central seating and the introduction of a cafe. However, the report is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive summary of the overall transformation. While the main features are covered, the description of the changes is occasionally imprecise, such as stating the computer room is 'build' in the place of the reading room without specifying the direction or relative location clearly. To reach a higher band, you should aim to group information more logically and ensure that the comparison between the two time periods is more fluid and analytical rather than just listing changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally awkward, such as 'Moving further' and 'Apart from this'. The transition between the description of the west corner and the rest of the library feels a bit abrupt. While there is an overall progression, the logical flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between the past and present states is clearly signalled throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You rely on basic verbs like 'placed' and 'converted' repeatedly. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the diagram illustrates the picture of the floor plan', which is redundant. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive verbs and nouns related to architectural changes, such as 'transformed', 'replaced', 'relocated', or 'refurbished'. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you describe the changes with more sophistication and clarity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement and tense usage. For example, you wrote 'CDs, videos and computer games was placed' (should be 'were') and 'new cafe is introduce' (should be 'introduced'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and sentence structure, such as 'middle of right hand side of library'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and verb forms limit the score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent use of the past tense for the '20 years ago' section will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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