Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-18
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 central library plan for the first floor and differences happened between the decades ago with the current layout.
Overall, the library undergone into several changes and developement, the entrance remained the same with removing the tables and chairs while new facilities has been added such as lecture room, followed by a major expanation for some sections, namely children fiction books, cafe and computer room.
20 years ago, adult non fiction books was the only facilties in the right side of the library, in the current layout new service provided such as information desk, self-service machines. the CDs, vedios, and computer games totally replaced by the storytelling events with addtional sofas in both sides.
children's books transferred to the newly added storytellig events section and lecture room took its place. enquiry desk moved to the next section which is the adult fiction books with added self service machines and changes its name to information desk.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the two diagrams, noting key changes such as the removal of tables and chairs, the addition of a lecture room and café, and the replacement of media items with storytelling events. However, some descriptions are slightly confusing or contain minor inaccuracies in spatial reporting (for instance, stating that adult non-fiction books was the only facility on the right side 20 years ago). The overview is rather basic ('the library undergone into several changes and developement'). Overall, it addresses the requirements of the task adequately by selecting and reporting relevant main features and making comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged with an introduction, an overview, and separate body paragraphs comparing the two layouts, showing an overall logical organization. However, cohesive devices are sometimes faulty, mechanical, or missing entirely, leading to abrupt transitions between sentences (e.g., 'machines. the CDs...'). Paragraphing is attempted, but sentences within paragraphs sometimes lack smooth progression. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which requires the reader to work harder to follow the spatial comparisons between the past and present plans.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical range is adequate for the task, allowing the student to name various library sections and equipment such as 'enquiry desk', 'self-service machines', and 'storytelling events'. However, there are noticeable lexical and morphological errors throughout the text, such as 'developement', 'expanation' (expansion), 'vedios' (videos), and 'addtional'. Word choice is sometimes unnatural, as seen in 'differences happened between the decades ago' and 'the library undergone into several changes'. These errors reflect a limited control of word formation and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('adult non fiction books was the only facilties'), incorrect verb forms ('the library undergone into several changes', 'changes its name'), and punctuation/capitalization issues (starting sentences with lowercase letters like 'the CDs'). Complex structures tend to be faulty, and errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, though the overall meaning remains mostly accessible.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.