Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-26

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 two maps compare the public library's layout on how it was 20 years ago with how it is looking now. Overall, the central library went through major transformations, where the children's book room was converted into a lecture room. Instead of enquiry desk section, cafe is present in its place while the enquiry desk was relocated outside the cafe and it is surrounded by adult fiction books and self-service machines.

Looking into the details, tables and chairs was removed from the center of the library. The place where adult non-fiction books were kept now sits adult fiction books, information desk and self-service machines. Meanwhile, enquiry desk was converted into a cafe. Previously, reading room was present but today computer room is there. In place of adult fiction books, all reference books section is placed. Similarly, room that housed CDs, videos and computer games was expanded and now storytelling events, children's fiction books and a couple of sofas are placed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by summarising the main features of the library maps from 20 years ago and today, and makes relevant comparisons throughout. The overview paragraph captures the major transformations effectively, noting specific shifts such as the conversion of the children's room into a lecture room and the relocation of the enquiry desk. Key details are reported accurately, such as the addition of the cafe, computer room, and self-service machines. However, there are a few minor inaccuracies in mapping details; for instance, the student states that the 'children's book room was converted into a lecture room', whereas the lecture room is actually located in the top-right where the children's books used to be, and the top-left room changed from CDs/videos to children's fiction and storytelling events. Despite these minor spatial misreadings, all main areas are addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into a clear introductory paragraph containing an overall statement and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. Progression is generally logical, moving systematically through the various rooms and sections of the library. However, cohesive devices are sometimes basic or mechanical, and referencing occasionally lacks precision, such as in sentences like 'Previously, reading room was present but today computer room is there', which lacks appropriate articles and smooth transitions. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed body points, but overall cohesion could be polished with better linking phrases and reference pronouns.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with appropriate functional terms such as 'transformations', 'converted', 'relocated', and 'expanded'. There are, however, some awkward word choices and collocation errors, such as 'layout on how it was' instead of 'layout as it was', and missing articles like 'cafe is present' and 'enquiry desk was converted into a cafe'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, and these minor lexical and grammatical word-choice errors occasionally disrupt the natural flow of the writing, though they never impede overall communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using passive constructions ('was converted', 'was relocated', 'was removed') appropriately for a diagram summary. There are frequent grammatical errors involving missing articles ('the cafe', 'the enquiry desk', 'the computer room') and occasional prepositional or subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'tables and chairs was removed' (plural subject with singular verb). Despite these errors, the grammatical range is sufficient to make the meaning clear, and complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of accuracy.

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