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 map diagram illustrates the changes of floor plan of a central library within twenty years.
Overall, tables and chairs has been removed in central library, while there are numerous changed throughout the period.
Initially, entrance has been settled in south side. After this, in the left side reading room has been changed in computer room. Opposite it enquiry desk has been replaced into cafe. 20 years ago tables are attached by 8 chairs in middle but after twenty year it has been vanished. Subsequently, adult non fiction books has been changed in adult fiction books attached with information desk in east side.
Furthermore, in the west side adult fiction books has been replaced in all reference books. In the north east corner children's book are replaced by lecture room. In addition, CDs, videos, computer games are converted into storytelling events and children's fiction books with attached two sofa.
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 addresses the task partially, as it attempts to describe the main changes between the two floor plans, but it falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement. The overview provided in the second sentence is very basic and lacks clarity regarding the overall spatial transformation of the library. While the student identifies several specific room conversions—such as the reading room becoming a computer room and the children's books area being replaced by a lecture room—some descriptions are mechanical and fail to convey the broader comparative picture effectively. To reach a higher level, the overview needs to be more developed, highlighting major directional or functional shifts, and the response must fully satisfy the minimum word count.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
There is some organisation in the essay, as the student attempts to guide the reader through the map using spatial markers like "in the left side", "opposite it", and "in the north east corner". However, there is no clear overall progression, and the information feels like a disjointed list of location changes rather than a smoothly connected report. Paragraphing is minimal, with the main body compressed into a single block alongside the introduction. Cohesive devices are repetitive and sometimes awkward, such as starting consecutive sentences with "Initially", "After this", and "Subsequently". To improve coherence, the writer should structure the response into logical paragraphs based on areas of the library and employ a wider, more natural range of cohesive links.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to describe the basic features of a library, such as "entrance", "reading room", "cafe", and "computer room". There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as "tables and chairs has been removed in central library" instead of 'from' the central library, and stating that tables were "attached by 8 chairs". Other inaccuracies include "adult non fiction books has been changed in adult fiction books". These errors occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher band, the student needs to incorporate a broader range of vocabulary, utilise more precise verbs of change like 'converted', 'transformed', or 'relocated', and ensure correct collocation and preposition use with lexical items.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and passive constructions that frequently contain errors. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as "tables and chairs has been removed" (plural subject with singular auxiliary), "tables are attached... but after twenty year it has been vanished", and "children's book are replaced". Errors also appear in prepositions and articles, for instance, "in the left side" instead of 'on the left-hand side'. These frequent grammatical errors cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To improve, the student must work on mastering basic agreement rules, tense control for describing historical changes, and attempt more complex sentence forms accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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