Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-27
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 construction diagram shows comparison of floor plan of central library today and 20 years before.
Overall, it is immediately clear that instead of providing learning space in middle it was moved in closed environment. Furthermore refreshments through cafe was new addition.
The central library 20 years before contained tables and chairs in the middle that could accommodate many while today these were remove from the plan and the central hall is empty. At the right corner above is now story telling events are now done and sofas are also provided the place contains many children fiction books before it was used for computer games. On the left there is lecture room transformed from children books room.
Furthermore, cafe was introduced at the bottom left corner with area containing self serving machines information desk and adult fiction books between lecture room and cafe. In contrast, on the left space reserved for adult fiction books and reading room below 20 years ago was now changed to area having all reference books and computer room respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the floor plans, noting key transformations such as the removal of central tables, the addition of a café, and the reallocation of various rooms. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, stating that learning space was moved into closed environments and a café was added. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the spatial details and locations based on the prompt's ground truth (for example, mixing up left and right, and misstating the original purpose of certain rooms). As a result, while the overall response addresses the prompt, some information is under-developed or imprecise.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is organized into four paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', and 'while' are used to link ideas. However, paragraphing and referencing can be confusing at times, and the logical progression between sentences is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and spatial disorientation (e.g., 'At the right corner above is now story telling events are now done...'). Overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow, but cohesion frequently feels mechanical or unclear.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe changes such as 'construction diagram', 'transformed', and 'introduction'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with noticeable word choice errors and awkward collocations (e.g., 'self serving machines', 'children fiction books', 'closed environment'). Spelling is mostly accurate, but the lexical control struggles with precision when describing specific library facilities and spatial relationships.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like relative clauses and passive voice ('was moved in closed environment', 'were remove from the plan'). There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding prepositions, missing articles, and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'these were remove', 'now story telling events are now done and sofas are also provided the place contains'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact readability and structural control.
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