Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-24
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 maps illustrate the redevelopment of public library from 20 years ago and present.
Overall, the Central library has undergone significant redevelopment , with the original feature being removed or replaced. Recreational or commerical facilities has been added including cafe, computer room, lecture room while entrance remained at same location,
Firstly, In the northen east corner, a CDs, videos, computer games site replaced by storytelling events and childern's fiction books site while in the northen west side, a childern's books was site was converted into lecture room. Moreover, in the south west corner, a enquiry desk has been changed by cafe while adult non-fiction books rebulit in the Adult fiction book site. Furthermore, in the middle a table and chairs has been introduced while entrance site remained at the same site in the middle of the south side.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response attempts to describe the main changes between the two maps of the Central Library. However, the student failed to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 138 words, which impacts the overall completeness of the task. While an overview is provided mentioning general redevelopment, there are several inaccuracies in mapping the specific locations from the prompt. For instance, the student states that CDs, videos, and computer games were replaced by storytelling events in the north-east, whereas the prompt shows this area contains the children's fiction and storytelling events in the current layout, while the north-east actually houses the lecture room. These spatial confusions limit the effectiveness of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay has a basic structure, including an introduction with an overview and a body paragraph attempting to detail the changes. However, logical progression is hindered by spatial inaccuracies and confusing directional phrasing, such as 'northen east corner' and 'northen west side'. Cohesive devices are used, but mechanically, with repetitive transition markers like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is minimal, as nearly all body details are lumped into a single dense paragraph. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact flow of transformations across the library layout.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to discuss the topic of library renovations, using terms such as 'redevelopment', 'facilities', 'converted', and 'rebuilt'. However, there are numerous lexical and collocational errors throughout the text, including 'commerical', spelling mistakes like 'northen', 'childern's', and 'rebulit', and awkward phrasing such as 'a CDs, videos, computer games site replaced by' and 'an enquiry desk has been changed by cafe'. These errors reflect a limited control over less common vocabulary and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and passive constructions ('has been added', 'was converted into'). However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement. Examples include 'redevelopment of public library' (missing article), 'Recreational or commerical facilities has been added' (plural subject with singular verb), 'at same location', and 'entrance site remained at the same site'. Punctuation and capitalization errors, such as missing spaces before commas and inconsistent capitalization of directional terms, also detract from the quality.
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.