Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-02

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 5.0)

The given figure illustrates the view of library after reconstruction and before 20 years ago. Overall, it depicts that now central library looks modernized after the development of some important structures.while, the path of entrance in library situated on the same place. In terms of detail,20 years ago central library was not have specific features. At that time, it was under-construction.In addition,it has tables and chairs at the centre of library.In contrast,today after the development it becomes modernized. furthermore, there are some rooms for lecture or computer.there is also cafe at the corner of library.For instance, there are are two sofas for children where they can sit and read the books. Meanwhile, adult fiction books present in some racks of library but non-fiction books not have in the central library today.Now, self-service machines also have in this library which becomes the library more advanced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the report attempts to summarize the main features of the library floor plan, the analysis is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task. For example, the description of the changes is vague, and the claim that non-fiction books are absent is not clearly supported by the provided visual data. The response lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes, such as the relocation of specific areas or the addition of new facilities, resulting in an under-developed response that does not fully cover all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is presented as a single block of text, which lacks appropriate paragraphing to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. This makes the progression of ideas feel disjointed. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition' and 'In contrast', they are often used mechanically or incorrectly, such as starting a sentence with 'while' or 'furthermore' without proper punctuation. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall structure does not facilitate a smooth flow of information, which is a requirement for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'modernized', 'features', and 'development' to describe the changes. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'path of entrance in library situated on the same place' and 'non-fiction books not have in the central library'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the information with precision, and the errors in word formation and usage occasionally cause the reader to pause to interpret the intended meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'central library was not have' and 'self-service machines also have in this library'. Punctuation is also problematic, with missing spaces after commas and periods throughout the text. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in basic grammar are frequent enough to cause difficulty for the reader, which is characteristic of the Band 5 level.

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

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