Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-01
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 shows the plan of floor of a public library before 20 years and today's. Overall, it can seen that the central library well developed and introduced cafe self-service machine and many more thing they have introduce as compared to 20 year ago.
20 years ago, the central library has table and chairs in middle are which is completely removed in new plan. The upper left corner where CDs,Videos and computure games room were there which enlarged and their they kept children fiction book kept some sofa and also arranged some storytelling event in todays plan. Reading remove completely replaced by computer room and in between are were adult friction books were stored which is removed and introduced all reference books in today library.
In old plan the corner room of right side were childrens books placed which completely turned to lecture room in recent plan. after that enquiry desk is removed and there cafe is introduce and the are between both the room where they have implemented information desk and beside that adult fiction book and oppos
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 tables and the introduction of a cafe and lecture room. However, the description is somewhat disorganized and lacks a clear, logical overview of the most significant transformations. While the main changes are identified, the reporting is occasionally confusing, particularly in the final paragraph where the sentence structure breaks down ('and oppos'). To reach a higher band, you should ensure that all comparisons are clearly linked to the specific areas of the library and avoid abrupt endings. The summary of the overall changes is present but could be more precise regarding the functional shift of the library space.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, and the progression of ideas is hindered by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'after that enquiry desk is removed'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track exactly which part of the library is being described. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the spatial changes.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic verbs like 'removed', 'introduced', and 'placed'. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'computure' and 'friction' (likely meant 'fiction'), which distract the reader. The phrasing is often repetitive, and some collocations are unnatural, such as 'middle are' instead of 'central area'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more descriptive vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'converted into', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'replaced by', and ensure you proofread for basic spelling accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent errors in tense, word order, and article usage. For instance, 'before 20 years' should be '20 years ago', and 'it can seen' is missing the passive auxiliary 'be'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and incomplete sentences, particularly in the final paragraph. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of grammatical slips prevents the writing from being considered fluent. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb will significantly improve your clarity and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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