Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-03
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 a public library 20 years age and how it looks currently. Basically, it compares the facilites before and after development.
Twenty years ago, there were different sections for books and entertainment. On the left side, CDs, videos and computer games were located at the top, while adult fiction books were below them. At the bottom left, there was a reading room for newspapers and magazines. On the right side, children's books were at the top and adult non-fiction books were below. An enquiry desk was located in the bottom right corner. There were also tables and chairs in the middle of the library.
In conclusion, the Central Library has been changed significantly over the last 20 years, with many old sections being replaced by new facilities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the task requires a comparison between the library '20 years ago' and 'how it looks now'. While you described the past layout, you completely failed to describe the current layout, meaning the most important part of the prompt was ignored. To achieve a higher band, you must provide a detailed summary of both diagrams and highlight the specific changes (e.g., what replaced the enquiry desk or the reading room).
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction and a body paragraph describing the past. However, the lack of a description for the current layout makes the overall progression incomplete. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the left side' and 'On the right side', which helps the reader follow the spatial description. Paragraphing is present, but the conclusion is very brief and does not summarize the specific changes effectively. To improve, ensure each part of the prompt is given a dedicated paragraph and use a wider variety of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'facilites', 'sections', and 'enquiry desk'. However, there is a spelling error ('facilites' instead of 'facilities') and a minor grammatical slip ('20 years age' instead of 'ago'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise descriptive language to describe spatial relationships and changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'converted', or 'replaced by'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses simple sentence structures effectively, and the meaning is generally clear. There are some minor errors, such as '20 years age' and 'has been changed significantly' (the passive voice is acceptable, but 'has changed' is more natural here). The range of grammatical structures is limited; there is a lack of complex sentences or varied clause structures. To improve, try to combine sentences using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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