Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-03

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)

This diagrams illustrate the floor change of a public library before 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Overall, there are significant changes in library. Such as Lecture room, computer room, cafe, information desks etc.

20 years ago, When we enter in the library, we saw tables and chairs in the middle. In the left side, we saw a reading room and on the right side we saw enquiry desk for tickets, book return etc. We saw adult fiction books on the left side of tables and chairs. In the left upper corner, we saw a hall. Where they were adjusted CDs, videos, computer games for kids. On the right upper corner, We saw a hall for children's books.

Today Library looks like, when we enter in the library, we see computer room on the left side and cafe on the right side. Then next to computer room, we see all reference books. In the left upper corner, we see a hall, in which we see storytelling events, children's fiction books and sofa on the each side. In the right upper corner, we see lecture room. In the middle, we see information desk

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the library floor plan comparing the past and the present, satisfying some basic requirements of the task. However, the development is limited and some descriptions lack precision. For instance, the introduction contains inaccuracies regarding the timeframe ("before 20 years ago"). While the writer identifies several key changes such as the addition of the lecture room, computer room, and café, the overview is overly simplistic, stating only that "there are significant changes in library." Furthermore, some details regarding the layout are vague or slightly inaccurate, leading to a partial and somewhat underdeveloped treatment of the visual data. To reach a higher level, the response needs a clearer, more comprehensive overview and a more precise, structured reporting of the spatial relationships and transformations over the twenty-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay displays some basic organization, separating the description of the past from the present, which provides a rudimentary logical framework. However, there is no clear overall progression across the text as a whole. Cohesive devices are used inadequately and repetitively, with sentences heavily reliant on basic transitional phrases such as "20 years ago," "Today Library looks like," and "Then next to." Paragraphing is also poorly managed, resulting in a clumped structure where ideas are not grouped cohesively. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact spatial transitions around the floor plan. To improve, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive devices more accurately and structure the response into distinct, logically flowing paragraphs that guide the reader smoothly through the spatial comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, relying heavily on repetitive phrasing and basic everyday words. Throughout the response, the writer uses simple terms such as "saw," "left side," and "right side" repeatedly instead of employing more sophisticated spatial or descriptive language appropriate for an academic report. There are also noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as "floor change" instead of "floor plan" or "layout," and phrasing like "Today Library looks like." While the meaning is generally communicated despite these limitations, the lack of a varied vocabulary base and instances of imprecise word choice restrict the quality of the response. To progress, the writer must expand their lexical range to include more precise descriptive verbs and nouns related to structural changes and spatial mapping.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying almost exclusively on simple sentences with repetitive subject-verb patterns like "we saw" and "we see." Attempts at complex structures are virtually absent, and the writing is marred by frequent grammatical errors. These include errors in prepositions and articles, such as "in library" instead of "in the library" and "enter in the library" instead of "enter the library," as well as tense inconsistencies and faulty modifiers like "on the each side." These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and impede the flow of the text. To achieve a higher standard, the writer needs to incorporate a wider mix of sentence forms, including passive voice and relative clauses, while improving basic grammatical accuracy in prepositions, verb tenses, and article use.

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