Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-16
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 above diagram compares the Central Library of 20 years ago to it's situation today
Overall, all the rooms of library has been changed.The tables and chairs are removed and self service machines have been installed in today's library.
20 years ago Children's book were kept in top right corner of the library which would be replaced by Lecuture room. The room opposite to it used to be enquiry desk twenty years back and now it has turned into the cafe. The middle area between lecture room and cafe contains adult fiction book , information desk and self serivice machines.
Top left corner of library had CDs, videod nad computer games in it whereas now it has become an area for sitting and storytelling. it has children's fiction books too. the room opposite to it is turned into computer room , twenty years back it used to be vice versa.
The entrace of library has been same since twenty years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student attempts to cover the main changes between the two floor plans of the Central Library, noting several key alterations such as the removal of tables and chairs, the addition of self-service machines, and the conversion of the old CDs area into a storytelling and sitting space. However, there are some inaccuracies and vague descriptions in mapping the layout changes, such as misidentifying the exact locations of the lecture room and children's books. Furthermore, the overview is rather basic and lacks a comprehensive summary of the most prominent structural transformations. Consequently, the response satisfies the requirements for Band 6, as it addresses the task adequately while containing some under-developed and slightly inaccurate comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a recognizable progression from an introductory overview to specific comparative details. However, paragraphing is somewhat weak, with the body of the response clumped together rather than clearly separated into logical thematic or spatial blocks. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes mechanical, with occasional referencing issues such as unclear pronoun antecedent agreement (e.g., 'it has children's fiction books too. the room opposite to it is turned into computer room'). Overall organisation is sufficient for a Band 5.5 or 6.0, and here it aligns best with Band 5.5 due to the lack of clear paragraph structure and slightly faulty cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms like 'enquiry desk', 'self-service machines', 'storytelling', and 'reference books'. However, there are several noticeable spelling errors and typos throughout the text, including 'it's' instead of 'its', 'videod', 'nad', 'Lecuture', and 'serivice'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed accuracy, and the lexical range remains somewhat repetitive and basic. These errors occasionally cause mild distraction for the reader, fitting the Band 5.5 descriptors well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures such as relative clauses and passive voice (e.g., 'The tables and chairs are removed and self service machines have been installed'). However, grammatical control is inconsistent, featuring errors in tense consistency ('which would be replaced', 'twenty years back it used to be vice versa'), missing articles ('rooms of library', 'entrace of library'), and punctuation and capitalisation errors (e.g., missing spaces after periods). Despite these frequent errors, communication is rarely impeded entirely, allowing the response to secure a Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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