Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13
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 diagrams illustrate how a public library has developed following a redesign plan.
Overall, despite retaining some original features, the public library has been significantly transformed. The most notable change include the addition of new facilities and the trasnformation of all of the corner rooms fuction.
Prior to the redesign, the library has tables and chairs in the middle of the main room. On right side of the tables and chairs, Adult non-fiction books are located, while on left side the Adult fiction books are placed. There are 4 rooms located in the corner of the main room with CDs, videos, and computer games in the top right corner, children's books on the top rigth corener, Enquiry desk in the bottem right corner, adn reading room in the bottom left corner.
In the present day, the tables and chairs in the middle have been removed. the adult fiction book also has been moved to the prior adult non-fiction books location, and transformed into All reference books area. In the new adult fiction books area, Information desk and Self-service machines have been added. Finally, all of the room in the corner of the main room have been transformed into a new function. CDs rooms became a Storytelling events and children's fiction books room, Children books replaced to a lecture room, Enquiry desk transformed into Cafe, and Reading room became computer room.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student covers all key features of the two diagrams, successfully comparing the layout of the public library 20 years ago with its current state. The overview captures the major transformations, such as the addition of new facilities and the reallocation of corner rooms. The student identifies specific zones, including the former fiction and non-fiction areas, the central seating, and the four corner rooms. However, there are some minor descriptive inaccuracies regarding the new positions of certain facilities, and the body paragraphs could benefit from a slightly more structured comparative approach. Nevertheless, the task is fully addressed in line with Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by separate descriptions of the past and present layouts. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Prior to the redesign' and 'In the present day', which help guide the reader temporally. However, referencing and cohesion are occasionally clunky or repetitive (e.g., repeatedly using 'all of the room in the corner'). Paragraphing is generally appropriate, but the internal logical progression within paragraphs can feel slightly mechanical. This aligns well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with domain-specific terms like 'public library', 'redesign plan', 'Enquiry desk', and 'Self-service machines'. The student attempts less common vocabulary, but there are noticeable spelling errors ('trasnformation', 'fuction', 'rigth corener', 'bottem') and awkward word forms ('All reference books area'). Despite these lexical errors and typos, the meaning is generally communicated clearly, which fits the Band 6.0 criteria.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as introductory prepositional phrases ('Prior to the redesign, the library has...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors in tense consistency (shifting between past and present inappropriately, e.g., 'the library has tables' instead of 'had', and 'the adult fiction book also has been moved'). Punctuation and capitalization are also somewhat erratic. These errors occasionally disrupt the reading flow, making Band 5.5 the most accurate descriptor for grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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