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 floor plan of the public library 20 years ago and also depicts its features after the development.
Overall, the public library has undergone significant modifications. The most important change was the addition of information desk and self service machines.
Before 20 years , the floor of the library consists of simple facilities such as Tables and chairs in the middle , which has been replaced with open space. The children's books room was existed on the far right side of corner and now has been change with lecture room.
After the entrance gate, the right enquiry desk room (tickets , books return) was converted into the cafe.
In the left side of the corner, there was a room for CDs, Videos, Computer games, which has been modified and the area was expanded with the children's fiction books and storytelling events , additionally, sofa was also added on the both sides of the room. Furthermore, all reference books was developed after removing the adult fiction books. The computer room was also built on the left side being entered.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have successfully identified the main features of the library's transformation, such as the addition of the cafe and the reconfiguration of the children's area. You provide a clear overview and make relevant comparisons between the two time periods. However, the response could be improved by ensuring all key changes are described with more precision. For instance, the location of the new computer room is described as 'being entered,' which is slightly ambiguous. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are accurate and that the summary highlights the most significant shifts in the library's layout more clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group changes by location. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'additionally' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by mechanical phrasing, such as 'Before 20 years' and 'on the left side of the corner.' The paragraphing is functional, but the transition between the description of the entrance area and the left side of the library could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent referencing would enhance the overall coherence of your response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'undergone significant modifications,' 'converted,' and 'reconfigured.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the children's books room was existed' and 'all reference books was developed.' These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that verbs are used correctly in the context of describing physical changes to a floor plan.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('all reference books was developed') and incorrect tense usage ('has been change' instead of 'has been changed'). Additionally, there are minor errors in preposition usage and sentence construction, such as 'Before 20 years' instead of 'Twenty years ago.' While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency and accuracy of the response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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