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 given diagrams illustrate the significant changes made in a public library after 20 years.
Overall, the Central Library has undergone many changes, particularly the introduction of a cafe. Teaching room has been installed along with certain updates in technology. Books are now widely available, including fiction for both children and adults.
First of all, entrance has been cleared which was previously equipped with tables and chairs. Adult fiction books have been re-organized into non-fiction books space, along with an information desk and self-service machines. Reception desk that had all the record of purchases is now replaced by a cafe.
Computer room is now situated just left to the entrance, which was twenty years ago a reading room containing magazines and newspapers. Reference books are now available just in the middle of the library. In addition, e-games room is now converted into a storytelling room for children with sofas in the corner. It also contains fiction books for children which interest them the most.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to summarise the main features of the library floor plans over the 20-year period, covering several key modifications such as the addition of a cafe and the reorganisation of book sections. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing some notable developments. However, there are notable inaccuracies regarding the visual data. For instance, the student states that the entrance was previously equipped with tables and chairs, whereas the transcription shows the central corridor contained the tables and chairs while the entrance remained a passageway. Additionally, the lecture room, self-service machines, and reference book relocations are partially or incorrectly described. Consequently, while the response addresses the prompt, the selection and reporting of features contain significant misreadings.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing specific areas of the library. Logical connectors such as 'Overall', 'First of all', and 'In addition' are employed to guide the reader through the transitions. However, paragraphing could be structured more effectively, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'which was previously equipped' modifying 'entrance' awkwardly. Cohesive devices are functional but tend to be somewhat mechanical, leading to a moderately coherent overall arrangement that meets the criteria for Band 6.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with attempts at less common phrasing such as 'undergone many changes', 're-organised', and 'situated just left to the entrance'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'Teaching room has been installed' instead of 'Lecture room', and 'Reception desk that had all the record of purchases' which misinterprets the enquiry desk function. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lexical inaccuracies constrain the response to a Band 5.5 or 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses ('which was twenty years ago a reading room') and passive constructions ('has been installed', 'is now converted'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as missing articles ('entrance has been cleared' instead of 'the entrance') and slight structural slips. Nevertheless, these errors rarely impede overall communication, allowing the response to secure a solid Band 6.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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