Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-04
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 illustrates the floor plan of public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.
Overall, the figure shows the modification of public library. Many things has been changed from 20 year ago to till now.
In central library, 20 years ago we can see in the left side there is CDs, videos, computer games in the corner side, at middle there is adult fiction books. furthermore, there is reading room also. But now it has totally chnaged. There is two sofa , between the sofa there is a storytelling events and also there is a chlidren's fiction books. Moreover, now there is all reference books and computer room. Before the is tables and chairs in the middle of left and right side, but now there is only walking space. Tables and chairs has been removed.
At the right side there is a chlidren's books and in the middle adult non fiction books is there. Enquiry desk is also in central library 20 years ago. But now whole things has been changed and there is a lecture room, adult fiction books and self service machines are there in middle, also cafe has been built in the central library now.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main changes between the public library 20 years ago and its current layout. However, the development of ideas is uneven. For example, while the writer mentions the removal of tables and chairs and the addition of a computer room and lecture room, some descriptions lack precision, such as stating 'whole things has been changed' without fully synthesising the overall transformation. The overview provided in the second paragraph touches upon modification, but it remains brief and lacks a clear summary of the most striking spatial reallocations, such as the shift from a reading and media focus to modern study and self-service facilities.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a recognisable attempt to structure the information chronologically and spatially, moving from left to right across the floor plans. However, referencing and cohesive devices are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the transition between paragraphs relies on repetitive phrase structures like 'In central library, 20 years ago' and 'At the right side'. Paragraphing is attempted by separating the left and right sides of the library, but the grouping of information within paragraphs lacks smooth logical progression, causing the relationships between spatial changes to feel slightly disjointed.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate to accomplish the task, demonstrating basic functional terms related to maps and room types, such as 'floor plan', 'reading room', and 'lecture room'. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary and descriptive phrases like 'modification' and 'walking space', but these are accompanied by noticeable word choice errors and repetitions, such as 'chnaged' instead of changed, and 'whole things'. While communication is not severely impeded, the limited control over word forms and spelling restricts the precision needed for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing comparative statements and relative clauses, such as 'The given diagram illustrates the floor plan of public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.' However, there are frequent errors in verb tense consistency, subject-verb agreement, and articles—for instance, writing 'Many things has been changed' instead of have been changed, omitting articles before nouns ('public library', 'enquiry desk'), and incorrect singular/plural pairings ('two sofa'). These grammatical slips and punctuation inconsistencies require some effort from the reader to parse, though they rarely obscure the overall meaning completely.
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