Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-09
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 map illustrates the layout of public library floor 20 years ago and now.
At first glance, the entrance was placed in south side in the middle of library which is still at same place. While, Enquiry desk was situated right side of and reading room was located on left side of entrance respectively. Now , both rooms are demolished and converted into cafe in the right side of entrance as well as computer room in the side of entrance. Despite of this, tables and chairs was placed in center of library which are removed and leave the place empty. Children's books arear was present in the North west side and opposite to Computer games room. At present lecture room was bulited in the same place children book. However, Computer games room was transformed into children fiction books and storytelling events having some sofa. Adult fiction books was situated west side of library and opposite to non fiction books. There rooms are converted into all reference books in west along with adult books with information deson right side
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 conversion of the reading room and enquiry desk into a cafe and computer room. However, the description is somewhat confusing in places, particularly regarding the location of the adult fiction and non-fiction sections. The summary of the changes is present, but the lack of clarity in spatial descriptions makes it difficult for the reader to follow the transformation accurately. To improve, ensure that the spatial relationships (e.g., 'north-west', 'opposite') are described with greater precision and that the overview clearly contrasts the 'before' and 'after' states.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices like 'At first glance', 'While', and 'Despite of this' is sometimes awkward or grammatically incorrect. For instance, 'Despite of this' is an incorrect collocation. The progression of information is occasionally disjointed, making it hard to track the changes from the past to the present. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'bulited' (likely a misspelling of 'built'), 'arear' (area), and 'deson' (desk). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology for describing spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'replaced', or 'partitioned', and ensure that spelling is accurate throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'tables and chairs was placed' and 'Adult fiction books was situated'. Additionally, there are errors in article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in south side' instead of 'on the south side'. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, the control over these structures is weak, leading to errors in punctuation and word order. Focusing on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement will help improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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