Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-29
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 two maps illustrate the changes which have taken place in the central library in 20 years ago and present.
Overall, the city have become modern library with good quality entertainment and educational facilities.
The interesting change is that centre tables and chairs have been knocked down. However after two decades children's books area has been substituted by lecture room. There was not any information desk in early library, but today it has been attached. In 20 years ago the north east side of the library consisted of CDs, videos, computer games room. Then today, this area has been expanded and it has been reserved for children especially who like to read fiction books.
Furthermore, adult fiction books area has been replaced by all reference books. There was not any self- service machines in 20 years ago, but today it has been established. Reading room and enquiry desk have been substituded by computer room and cafe. The shape of enquiry desk area has been transformed
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 response attempts to cover the main changes shown on the maps, such as the removal of central tables and chairs, the addition of self-service machines, and the introduction of a lecture room and a cafe. However, there are significant inaccuracies in mapping the specific locations and conversions. For example, the student states that the children's books area has been substituted by a lecture room, whereas the lecture room is actually on the top right while the children's fiction and storytelling events area is on the top left. Furthermore, the overview sentence ("the city have become modern library") is awkward and grammatically flawed. While some key features are reported, the misinterpretation of spatial relationships and imprecise reporting limit the score to Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the overall progression of ideas is disjointed and hard to follow. Sentences often feel disconnected due to mechanical or inappropriate cohesive devices, such as starting a sentence with "Then today". Paragraphing is underdeveloped, with single-sentence paragraphs failing to group logical points effectively. Referencing is occasionally confusing, making it difficult to track which areas of the library are being contrasted across the two time periods. Cohesive devices are overused or inaccurately applied, preventing smooth transitions between ideas, which aligns with the Band 5 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with frequent word choice and collocation errors (e.g., "knocked down" instead of "removed", "attached" instead of "added", and "substituded" containing a spelling error). Phrases such as "city have become modern library" demonstrate a lack of precision and lexical control. While the student attempts to use some task-specific vocabulary like "enquiry desk" and "reference books", the overall range is limited, and noticeable errors in spelling and word formation cause some difficulty for the reader, fitting the Band 5 profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty, such as subject-verb agreement errors ("the city have become") and awkward prepositional phrases ("in 20 years ago"). There are frequent errors in tense usage and passive voice formation (e.g., "it has been established", "area has been transformed" left incomplete). These errors occur throughout the text and frequently cause strain for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly at Band 5.0.
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.