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 two plans illustrate the layout of a public library before its redesign and after its arrangement.
Overall, the library has undergone significant changes with freeing more space for children's recreation and information desk. Storytelling events has been installed with sofa and café has been replaced by enquiry desk. Reading room has been constructed newly.
Before its redesign, tables and chairs kept in the middle Infront of the entrance. CD's, videos, computer games site was in the northwest side. Children's books, on the other, was on the southeast side. Adult fiction books and adult non fiction books were in the both sides keeping tables and chairs in the middle. Reading room and enquiry desk followed the same way.
Today, tables and chairs have been removed for making more space. CD's space replaced by storytelling events, sofa's and children's fiction books. Café takes space of enquiry desk. Self service machines has been installed newly Infront of the cafe. Computer room has been constructed in the southern side near the entrance. All reference books area newly made between storytelling events and computer room.
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 library floor plan, including the key changes such as the removal of tables and the introduction of new facilities like the computer room and self-service machines. However, the overview is slightly weak; it lists specific changes rather than identifying the broader trends, such as the shift from a study-focused space to a more interactive, technology-oriented environment. Some descriptions are slightly inaccurate, such as stating the café 'takes space of enquiry desk' when the diagram shows the café replaced the original entrance area/enquiry desk location. Overall, the response addresses the task requirements adequately but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the 'before' and 'after' states. Paragraphing is used appropriately. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'in the... side'. Some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the location of the new reference books. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated linking words limits the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to follow the changes described. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'redesign', 'arrangement', and 'self-service machines'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'freeing more space' instead of 'creating more space' and 'constructed newly' instead of 'newly constructed'. Additionally, the use of 'CD's' and 'sofa's' contains unnecessary apostrophes. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'Storytelling events has been installed', 'Self service machines has been installed') and missing articles (e.g., 'on the other', 'in the both sides'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. The punctuation is generally functional, but the consistent errors in basic grammar structures suggest a need for more careful proofreading and practice with pluralization and verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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