Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-07
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 floor plan of the public library before 2 decades and now is represented by the diagram.
Overall, library is renovated now and big changes can be seen in all the sections of the library.
The Central Library twenty years ago, entrance of the library was in south direction. Chairs and tables were placed in front of the entrance and middle of the Library. CDs, videos, and computer games were on the north-west direction and reading room was in south- west area, where newspapers and magazines were placed. in the middle of these there were adult ficition books section. On the other side of the Library, in the north-east corner was for children's books and opposite side was enquiry desk.
IN today's time, entrance gate was still on the same place, while Cafe is opened on the right direction of entrance and on the left side the computer room is open. lecture room is open in place of children's books section and storytelling events are organised in the north direction of the library where sofas are placed and tables and chires removed from the middle.
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, identifying key changes such as the addition of the cafe and computer room, and the relocation of the lecture room. However, the summary is somewhat superficial. It lacks a clear, analytical overview that synthesizes the most significant trends (e.g., the shift from a traditional reading space to a more modern, multi-functional facility). Some details are slightly inaccurate or confusing, such as the description of the children's books area. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information more logically and providing a more comprehensive comparison between the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the past and the present is abrupt. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas within paragraphs, making the flow feel somewhat disjointed. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'in the middle of these,' which does not clearly point to the previously mentioned sections. Improving the use of transition signals would significantly enhance the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic descriptors like 'big changes' and 'opened on the right direction.' There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'before 2 decades' instead of 'two decades ago' and 'in today's time' instead of 'currently' or 'nowadays.' While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or topic-specific terminology related to architectural changes or floor plan descriptions.
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. Issues include missing articles ('entrance of the library,' 'in middle of the Library'), incorrect preposition usage ('on the north-west direction'), and tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'Cafe is opened' instead of 'a cafe has been opened'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences lacking proper capitalization after periods. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the overall score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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