Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-19
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 given diagram illustrates the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now . According to the given diagram , the central library 20 years ago have entrance in the centre and the tables and chairs are ahead the entrance . In the right side of the entrance , there is an enquiry desk where tickets, Book returns etc facilities are available . In the left side , there is reading room for newspapers and magazines . In right side of tables and chairs, there is an adult non fiction books and in opposite side there is adult fiction books. When we move forward in the right hand there are all children Books are available . And opposite to this Cds , videos , computer games are available.
After 20 years the entrance remain same , but the right side is cafe and left side is computer room. When we go ahead there is all reference books are available . When we go forward in left side there is an sitting arrangement and children fiction books and also story teeling events are held there. Opposite to this there is lecture room . Ahead to cafe there is self service machines and information desk . All this changes are held in 20 years
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to describe the two floor plans of the central library, outlining features such as the entrance, enquiry desk, reading room, and book sections in the past, and changes like the café, computer room, and lecture room today. However, the response fails to provide a clear overall summary or effectively highlight the main trends and comprehensive comparisons as required for Academic Task 1. The description is overly reliant on a linear, step-by-step room-by-room walkthrough rather than a structured synthesis of the data. Furthermore, some spatial descriptions are vague or lack precision, such as 'When we move forward in the right hand', which hinders the overall clarity of the reporting.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text suffers from a lack of effective paragraphing, being presented in two bulky blocks rather than logical paragraphs that separate the past layout from the present layout. Cohesive devices are repetitive and basic, relying heavily on transitional phrases like 'When we move forward' and 'In the right side'. Progression is somewhat disjointed due to the lack of clear spatial referencing and overall structuring. While the reader can generally follow the geographical movement around the library plans, the mechanical nature of the linking devices and poor paragraph division restrict the score to Band 5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and repetitive, repeatedly using basic verbs and nouns such as 'there is', 'available', 'room', and 'books'. There are noticeable vocabulary inaccuracies and unnatural phrasing, such as 'story teeling events' (misspelling of storytelling) and 'sitting arrangement'. Less common vocabulary is barely attempted, and precise descriptive terms for architectural or layout changes are lacking. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey basic locations, the frequent reliance on simple words and spelling slips keeps the performance at a Band 5 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates control over simple sentence structures, but attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty. There are several grammatical and tense errors throughout the text, such as 'the central library 20 years ago have entrance' (subject-verb agreement), 'the entrance remain same' (missing tense marker), and 'All this changes are held' (incorrect collocation and plural agreement). Punctuation is also weak, with spaces incorrectly placed before full stops and commas. Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, a Band 5 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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