Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-01
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 pictures illustrates the before and after construction of floor plan at the time interval of 20 years.
Overall, central area is changed providing more spaces by removing the tables and chairs where as all the sections are changed as per the preference and convenient of an individual.
Previously, CDs, videos, computer games sections was at top left corner which is currently at lower left side and named as computer room. Similarly, the childrens fiction book and all referfences are located at top and middle part of library but back at 20 years the adult fiction books and reading room were at middle and lower left of building.
The inquiry desk is completly changed by the self service machines and indormation desk. Cafe is the new section in the right lowered section which was once used to be enquiry desk. Children book is replaced by lecture room while we can see the adult fiction book in top and middle portion of cafe respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response attempts to cover all parts of the task by comparing the floor plans of the central library from 20 years ago and today, but it only addresses the prompt partially. While there is an attempt at an overview, it is vague and mentions 'convenient of an individual' rather than clearly outlining the main spatial shifts. Some key details are inaccurately reported or confused; for instance, the writer states that the 'childrens fiction book and all referfences are located at top and middle part', and mixes up the locations of the new features like the cafe and lecture room relative to the original layout. Ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed, with mechanical listing of changes rather than a fully synthesised comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some basic organisation with an introduction, body details, and a concluding set of observations, but the response lacks a clear overall progression. Paragraphing is rudimentary and cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical, inaccurate, or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Similarly' and 'while we can see'. Referencing and logical tracking of locations become confused in places, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial transformations accurately. To move to a higher band, the student needs to ensure clearer logical sequencing and more precise, varied cohesive links between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey basic ideas about the library layout, using terms like 'construction', 'section', and 'enquiry desk'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as 'referfences', 'completly', 'indormation', and 'lowered section', alongside awkward phrasing like 'convenient of an individual'. These lexical inadequacies and occasional word-choice errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a restricted lexical range. Developing a broader set of academic terms for describing spatial changes and checking spelling will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer uses a limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic complex forms, some of which are faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar, plurals, and prepositions, such as 'The pictures illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'floor plan at the time interval', 'the childrens fiction book' (missing plural/possessive marker), and 'adult fiction book in top and middle portion'. These errors persist throughout the text and require some effort from the reader to decode. Greater control over basic agreement, articles, and more accurate complex sentence formation are needed to progress.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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