Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-17

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 represents the advancement of a central library over time.

Overall, Today's public library looks well-organized with proper separate compartments along with the addition of lecture room, cafe, computer room and various reference books as compared to 20 years ago library.

In central library, children's books are replaced by a lecture room in the right southeast corner followed by enquiry desk is transformed into a cafe in right south corner of library. The tables and chairs are removed in new library in front of entrance. The notable change is observed by shifting of adult fiction books location from west to east in new library besides to information desk.

In contrast, the left south corner reading room of old library is replaced by computer room. Furthermore, the left north corner is also replaced with fiction books and storytelling events along with the addition of two sofas to facilitate the children.

The new transformation of library is spacious and convenient for the students along with the addition of self-service machines as compared to 20 years ago.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers the main changes between the two maps, noting the transformation of the children's books into a lecture room and the enquiry desk into a café, as well as the addition of self-service machines and a computer room. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and misread spatial relationships compared to the source data (for instance, the lecture room is in the top-right rather than the right southeast corner, and adult fiction moved to the right rather than east from west). Despite these minor misreadings, an overall overview is provided, and key features of the library's transformation are reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is arranged into a discernible structure with an introduction, body paragraphs contrasting specific areas, and a concluding sentence. Paragraphing is attempted, though the division could be clearer (e.g., grouping changes by wing or facility). Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'Furthermore' are used, but referencing is sometimes clumsy or mechanical (e.g., 'the right southeast corner followed by enquiry desk is transformed'). Logical progression is occasionally disrupted by confusing directional descriptions, but an overall coherent arrangement is maintained.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common collocations and topic-specific terms such as 'well-organized', 'compartments', 'spacious', and 'self-service machines'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'advancement of a central library over time' instead of 'layout' or 'redesign', and awkward prepositional phrases like 'in new library besides to information desk'. Spelling is generally accurate, but lexical control lacks precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('are replaced', 'is transformed', 'are removed'). However, grammatical control is inconsistent, featuring errors in prepositions, missing articles, and awkward relative clauses (e.g., '20 years ago library', 'the left south corner reading room of old library'). Some sentences lack clear syntactic links or contain clumsy phrasing, though the errors rarely impede overall comprehension.

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

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