Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-14
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 diagram gives information about the layout plan of the central library 20 years ago and the present structure now.
overall, a lot of new structures was added to the building from each axis. while the only entrance remain the same.
in 2020. the library entrance was at south gate, next to the tables and chairs. At the eastern wing, there are enquiry dest, Adult non-fiction books and children's books. while at the western wing, the rooming rooms, Adult fiction books and the game centers are located.
At present, the entrance remain in same location, the tables and chair as be replace with an empty space. At the south-east, a door to the cafe is see, above it is the self-services machines, information desk and adult fiction books. At the north is the lecture room.
In the south-west is the computer room, above it is the references books. By the western part is a door to the children's fiction books, by the both corner is the sofa and in the middle is the storytelling events.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response successfully covers the main features of the central library's layout over the two time periods, noting key transformations such as the addition of a café, lecture room, and computer room, alongside the removal of certain seating areas. However, some descriptions are slightly confusing or imprecise, such as locating adult fiction books in multiple or shifting areas without clear differentiation. The overview is very brief and contains grammatical errors, but it does attempt to highlight the main trends of expansion. To reach a higher band, the overview needs to be more developed and the specific spatial relationships clearer. Overall, the response addresses the prompt adequately, earning a band score of 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into short paragraphs, though paragraphing is somewhat erratic, with sentence fragments like 'overall, a lot of new structures was added...' standing alone. Cohesive devices are basic and repetitive, frequently relying on directional phrases like 'At the eastern wing', 'At present', and 'In the south-west'. While there is an attempt to sequence information logically between the past and present layouts, referencing and progression are sometimes faulty, making it occasionally difficult for the reader to follow the exact spatial arrangement. For instance, transitional phrases lack variety and precision. Consequently, a band score of 5.0 is appropriate for this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a basic floor plan, incorporating terms such as 'enquiry desk', 'lecture room', and 'self-services machines'. However, there are notable word choice and spelling errors throughout the text, such as 'dest' instead of 'desk', 'rooming rooms' instead of reading rooms, and 'references books' instead of reference books. The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic descriptive terms. While these lexical slips do not completely impede communication, they restrict the score to a 5.0 according to the lexical resource descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response features a mix of simple and attempting-complex sentence structures, but it is heavily marred by persistent grammatical and punctuation errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('a lot of new structures was added', 'tables and chair as be replace'), tense inconsistencies ('the only entrance remain the same' instead of remained), and missing capitalization at the beginning of sentences and proper nouns. Punctuation is also problematic, with periods incorrectly separating clauses mid-sentence. Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, the grammar performance aligns best with a band score of 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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