Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-25

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)

Library is a place where one can get a lot of books and references in a single place. It reduces your time and energy to go from one place to another in search of books or the articles. Public libraries are infact a great help for the community.

Loots of changes have occurred over the time if we compare libraries 20 years ago and now. If we talk about old times like the one shown here in this map, the basic design is quiet simple. At that time, libraries were usually small with one enquiry desk on entrance and common sitting room. There are designated sections like adult books and children`s corner with one room for computer games with lots of CDS there. There is usually one reading room where different magazines and daily newspapers are available.

Now, if we talk about modern libraries, more attention is paid on comfort like small cafe are included. There is a separate room for story telling events designed specially for children to make it interesting for them. Reference books have been assigned one corner to make it easy to find. One room is allocated for lectures so that conferences and small group discussions can take place there without causing any disturbance. Self service machines are also available alongwith information desk to avoid long waiting times.

So yes libraries 20 years back and now are serving the same function but have added more comfort.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the requirements of an Academic Task 1 report. Instead of providing a clear overview and comparing the specific features shown in the floor plans, the response includes irrelevant introductory paragraphs about the general purpose of libraries. The description of the library features is somewhat vague and does not clearly distinguish between the '20 years ago' and 'now' layouts as presented in the visual data. To improve, you must focus exclusively on the provided diagram, identify the key changes (such as the addition of the cafe, lecture room, and self-service machines), and structure the report to compare these specific features directly without adding external opinions or general knowledge.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps with readability. However, the logical progression is weak because the response spends too much time on general commentary rather than focusing on the visual data. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Now, if we talk about' and 'At that time', but these are somewhat informal and repetitive. The transition between the general introduction and the specific description of the library is abrupt. To improve, use more sophisticated linking words to compare the two time periods, such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', or 'While the former layout featured X, the current design incorporates Y'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a high-scoring report. You rely on simple phrasing like 'a lot of', 'great help', and 'make it interesting'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'infact' (in fact) and 'alongwith' (along with). To achieve a higher band, you should use more precise, academic vocabulary related to describing layouts and changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', 'integrated', or 'spacious'. Avoid informal conversational fillers like 'So yes' at the beginning of your concluding sentence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'more attention is paid on comfort' (should be 'paid to'), 'small cafe are included' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'reference books have been assigned one corner' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some issues with spacing and capitalization. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Reviewing the use of prepositions after specific verbs will also help improve the natural flow of your writing.

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

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