Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30
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 map illustrates the changes that took place in the Central Library over a period of 20 years from the past to the present.
Overall, the library underwent significant changes including a cafe, an information desk and the self-service machines during the period. While the entrance remained unchanged, several new facilities such as a sofa, the computer room were added and some existing features like tables and chairs were removed.
Twenty years ago, the Central Library consisted of an enquiry desk, children's books and a reading room. The enquiry desk was located in the right corner of the entrance, while children's books were situated far away from the entrance to the right side. In addition, the reading room was located in the left corner of the entrance.
At present, the library had changed considerably. The childeren's books room was replaced by a lecture room, while adult fiction books were relocated. Furthermore, an information desk was constructed. However, every region of the library has been transformed.
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 changes between the two maps, but the coverage of specific features is incomplete and contains factual inaccuracies based on the visual data. For instance, the text claims that 'the children's books room was replaced by a lecture room,' whereas the maps show that the children's books area from 20 years ago was actually located on the top right, while the lecture room is a new addition in the top right today, and the children's fiction books/storytelling area is in the top left. Furthermore, the overview mentions a 'cafe, an information desk and the self-service machines,' which captures some key additions, but the overall selection and reporting of data lack thoroughness and precision. This corresponds to Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is structured into four distinct paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by an overview paragraph, a description of the past layout, and finally the present layout. However, the progression between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and cohesive devices are used rather mechanically (e.g., 'In addition', 'At present', 'Furthermore', 'However'). The reference links are occasionally weak, such as the concluding sentence 'However, every region of the library has been transformed,' which does not flow logically from the preceding sentence about the information desk. Paragraphing is present, but overall internal cohesion needs more flexibility. This warrants a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'relocated', 'transformed', and 'enquiry desk'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'every region of the library' instead of 'every area' or 'section', and a spelling slip ('childeren's'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive when describing locations and changes, preventing the response from reaching a higher band. This performance aligns with Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('changes that took place') and contrastive clauses ('While the entrance remained unchanged...'). However, there are grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, notably the tense inconsistency in the final paragraph ('At present, the library had changed considerably'), where a past perfect is incorrectly used for a present observation. Punctuation is generally fine, and meaning is mostly clear despite the errors, placing this at Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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