Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-10
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 5.0)
The maps depict that the floor plan of a public library after two decades and how it looks now .
Overall , it is crystal clear that everything will be changed after 20 years , without entrance .
At present , there is a main entrance for entering central library in south direction . After entrance , in left side , computer room is aviable . In the front of this room , there is cafe for eating and drinking . With the cafe , adult fiction books , information desk and self-service machines are present for reading purpose , getting information from desk and services from machines . In north direction , lecture room is constructed . Opposite to the lecture room , there are pair of sofa for sitting , story telling events and children;s fiction books . Between to this room and computer room , there is books of all reference for reading and to know about events .
After two decades , there will be same entrance for entering . There will be reading room for reading newspaper and magazines in north-west corner . In south direction , there will be CDs , videos and computer games for playing . Between to playing room and reading room , there will be adult fiction books in open area . In the central of library , there will pair of tables with 16 chairs . In the south-east corner , there will be enquiry desk will be constructed for tickets and books returns . After this room , there is adult non-fiction books in open area .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response attempts to describe the changes in the library layout. However, it fails to accurately interpret the task. The prompt asks to compare a library '20 years ago' with 'how it looks now', but the student incorrectly describes the 'now' layout as a future prediction ('there will be'). Furthermore, the description of the '20 years ago' layout is inaccurate, as it describes the current layout instead of the historical one. The summary of main features is confused, and the lack of accurate comparison between the two time periods significantly impacts the task achievement. The response does not clearly distinguish between the two maps provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is confusing due to the inaccurate interpretation of the maps. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'At present' and 'After two decades', but they are applied to the wrong information, which hinders the logical flow. Referencing is often unclear, such as 'Between to this room and computer room', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial layout. The use of linking words is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, failing to create a smooth transition between the described areas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'aviable' (available), 'in the central of library' (in the center of the library), and 'there are pair of sofa'. The student relies on basic descriptive language and struggles to use precise terminology related to floor plans or spatial descriptions. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of variety and the frequent errors in word formation and collocation limit the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage ('in south direction'), prepositional phrases ('Between to this room'), and subject-verb agreement. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of semicolons and commas. While the reader can generally understand the intended meaning, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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