Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04
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 later and currently how it looks now.
Overall, after 20 years there have been significant changes in a library. CDs, videos and computers room were upgraded in children's fiction books and story events and added two sofas in the room. In the hole area removed chairs and tables, added adult fiction books and self-service machines. Enquiry desk ticket, book return were converted to cafe.
To begin with before in entertainment room available only CDs, videos, computer games, but now added children's fiction books and organised story events there are two sofas added and room expanded. Reading room converted into computer room and front of it built all reference books. In the hole area removed the chairs and tables.
Turning to the next details, children's books room replaced by lecture room and enquiry desk replaced by cafe Front of it added self-service machines facilities and adult fiction books.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| 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 conversion of the enquiry desk to a cafe and the expansion of the entertainment room. However, the report is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the most significant trends. While the main changes are identified, some descriptions are imprecise, such as 'In the hole area', which is unclear. To improve, ensure that all areas of the diagram are described with greater clarity and that the summary highlights the most striking transformations, such as the shift from a traditional library layout to one incorporating more modern, self-service, and social facilities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'To begin with' and 'Turning to the next details' are used, but the internal flow within paragraphs is often choppy. There are instances where the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the abrupt transition between describing the entertainment room and the reading room. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that sentences flow logically from one to the next would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. For example, the word 'added' is used repeatedly, and there are errors in word choice, such as 'In the hole area' (likely meaning 'whole area') and 'Enquiry desk ticket'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or varied terminology to describe the changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'reconfigured'. Expanding your range of synonyms and focusing on accurate collocations will help you achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in library'), incorrect prepositions, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'Enquiry desk ticket, book return were converted to cafe'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are also problematic. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like missing 'the' or 'a' before nouns, and ensure that your verb forms correctly reflect the past and present time frames required by the task.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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