Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-07

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 two illustration shows the floor plan of public library 20 years ago and how it look today

Overall, Major change in new floor design is replacing the enquiry desk with cafe, tables and chairs are removed completely, while number of rooms remain the same with one addition for cafe

Starting with computer room, it is now shifted to bottom left corner and the door is shifted to right side, children's books section is now at top left corner with addition of a sofa and place for storytelling events, and in between these two rooms one can find all reference books

Lecture room is on top left which was previously used for children books and door remain in the same position. Cafe area is introduced in place of enquiry desk. Between cafe room and lecture room is now information desk with self-service machines are installed for easier book returns or renting a books along with area to display adult fiction books

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important changes, including the removal of the central tables, the new café, and the relocation of the children’s area. However, the overview is incomplete and includes an inaccurate comparison: the number of rooms does not simply remain the same, since the current plan adds a café and changes the use of several spaces. Some locations are also misreported: the lecture room is at the top right, not the top left, and the children’s books area is now at the top left. The response omits notable changes such as the former reading room becoming a computer room and the former adult non-fiction area becoming reference books. A more accurate overview and fuller coverage of the main transformations would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic progression: an introduction, an overview, and then descriptions of changes around the plan. Phrases such as “Starting with” and “Between cafe room and lecture room” help signal movement between features. However, the sequence is not consistently clear, and the final paragraph combines several locations and functions in one long sentence. The description of the lecture room also conflicts with the earlier account of the children’s area, making the spatial progression harder to follow. Organise the details into clearer groups—for example, left side and right side—and use explicit comparisons such as “formerly” and “now” to connect each change. This would improve the overall flow and reduce the need for the reader to infer relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “floor plan,” “corner,” “section,” “enquiry desk,” and “self-service machines.” These terms allow you to communicate several changes, and “introduced in place of” is a useful comparison phrase. However, some wording is imprecise or awkward, such as “Major change in new floor design,” “door is shifted,” and “area to display adult fiction books.” The phrase “renting a books” is also an inaccurate collocation and form. Aim for more precise map-description language, such as “the layout has been reorganised,” “the entrance to the room,” and “shelving for adult fiction.” More accurate collocations would make the descriptions clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple statements and longer sentences linked with “while,” “and,” and “which,” but complex sentences are often difficult to control. Errors appear in the opening—“The two illustration shows” and “how it look”—and in phrases such as “door remain in the same position” and “information desk with self-service machines are installed.” These show problems with subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence construction. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent, particularly in the overview. Use shorter, complete sentences when describing each area, and check agreement and verb tense systematically. For example, “The illustrations show … how it looked” and “An information desk and self-service machines have been installed” would express the intended ideas more accurately.

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