Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-11

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 old and how it looks currently. Basically, it compares the facilities before and after development.

Twenty years ago, there were different sections for books and entertainment. On the left side, CDs, videos and computer games were located at the top, while adult fiction books were below them. At the bottom left, there was a reading room for newspapers and magazines. On the right side, children's books were at the top and adult non-fiction books were below. An enquiry desk was located in the bottom right corner. There were also tables and chairs in the middle of the library.

In conclusion, the Central Library has been changed significantly over the last 20 years, with many old sections being replaced by new facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the response is incomplete as it only describes the library from 20 years ago. It fails to describe the current floor plan or provide any meaningful comparison between the two time periods, which is the core requirement of the task. By omitting the 'now' aspect of the diagram, the response does not address all parts of the prompt. To improve, you must ensure you describe both time periods shown in the visual data and provide a clear summary of the key changes observed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion. However, because the body paragraph only covers one half of the diagram, the overall progression is limited. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the left side' and 'On the right side', which help guide the reader through the spatial description. However, the lack of content regarding the current layout means there is no opportunity to use comparative language or transition words to contrast the two time periods. Paragraphing is present, but the brevity of the response makes the structure feel underdeveloped.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use functional terms like 'sections', 'facilities', and 'enquiry desk', which are appropriate for describing a floor plan. However, there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would demonstrate a wider range. For instance, instead of 'different sections', you could use 'distinct zones' or 'designated areas'. The word choice is generally accurate, but it does not show the flexibility or precision required for higher band scores. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and verbs related to change would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The grammar is generally accurate, and the sentences are easy to follow. You demonstrate a mix of simple and compound structures, such as 'On the left side, CDs, videos and computer games were located at the top, while adult fiction books were below them.' There are very few grammatical errors, which is a strength. However, the range of structures is limited; there is little use of complex sentence forms or passive voice constructions, which are often necessary for describing diagrams and processes. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures would help improve this score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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