Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The given diagram compares the floor plan of a public library displaying how is looks in contrast to how it used to look 20 years ago.
Overall, most of the infrastructure of library has changed over the past 20 years.However,the library has now included a cafe,a computer room and a lecture room as well.Moreover, self-service machines have been installed.
The library no longer has a adult non-fiction books.Even the table and chairs have been replaced by sofas.The CDs,videos and computer game room is now used for stortelling events and also has children's fiction books.
Moreover, the reading room is now known as the computer room.A lecture room has also been introduced and is located where the children books were.The library also has a seperate room as a cafe.All reference books have been placed right where the adult fiction books were.Whlie the adult fiction books are now found where the non-fiction books were situated with the information desk and self service machines.
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 student provides a general overview of the changes to the central library over the 20-year period and attempts to report several specific features. However, there are significant factual inaccuracies regarding the map data. For instance, the student states that the library 'no longer has adult non-fiction books,' whereas the floor plan shows that adult non-fiction books were actually replaced by reference books, and adult fiction books were relocated to the right side where non-fiction previously stood. Additionally, the statement that 'table and chairs have been replaced by sofas' overlooks the introduction of sofas specifically into the children's fiction area while completely missing the removal of the central tables and chairs. While the response touches upon the addition of the cafe, computer room, and lecture room, the misinterpretation of spatial shifts limits the overall effectiveness.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is structured into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs, which provides a basic organisational framework. However, the logical progression is hindered by confusing spatial descriptions and a lack of clear cohesive devices. Transition words like 'Moreover' are repeated mechanically. Furthermore, spacing and punctuation errors between sentences and clauses (e.g., missing spaces after commas and periods such as '20 years ago.However,the library') create choppy and awkward transitions, detracting from the overall readability and cohesion of the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'infrastructure,' 'relocated' (implied), and various room names. However, word choice and collocations are occasionally imprecise or inaccurate, such as 'stortelling' (spelling error) and 'seperate' (spelling error). The repetition of simple verbs and phrases limits the variety, and errors in spelling and collocation occasionally disrupt the flow, placing the response firmly in the Band 6 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and comparative forms ('displaying how is looks in contrast to how it used to look'). However, grammatical errors are frequent throughout the response. There are issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, as seen in 'how is looks' and 'a adult non-fiction books'. Punctuation errors, particularly missing spaces after punctuation marks and misused commas, are also prevalent and affect readability.
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