Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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 represent the change of a central library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Overall, the enterance remains at the same place, although there are a lot of changes can be seen. The tables and chairs are removed from the centre, it makes a huge space in the centre of the library after enterance.

Cds, videos, and computer games turned into storytelling events and children's fiction books, sofas are also put in the corner. Childern books room changed in lecture room. Adult fiction books remained at the same place, however self-service machines and informtion desk are added. The place between storytelling events and computer room now becomes the place for all reference books. Reading room now becomes the computer room,and the enquiry desk including tickets is replaced by cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall change—the central tables and chairs were removed—and report several important conversions, including the former reading room becoming a computer room and the enquiry area becoming a café. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: adult fiction did not remain in the same place; it moved from the middle-left to the middle-right, while the former middle-right adult non-fiction area became the information desk and self-service area. The reference books also occupy the former adult-fiction section, not simply a space between two rooms. The response is 124 words, 26 below the 150-word minimum; nine words copied from the prompt were excluded. This shortfall, together with limited coverage of the plan’s changes, leaves the task only partially addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: it begins with an overview and then describes several changes, so the reader can follow the general comparison. Linking words such as “although,” “however” and “and” help connect points. However, the organisation is compressed into one paragraph, and the changes are not grouped clearly by area or by what was replaced. The final sequence—“The place between storytelling events and computer room now becomes the place for all reference books”—is difficult to interpret, partly because the locations are not clearly anchored. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the detailed comparisons, and organise the details consistently from left to right or from the entrance towards the back.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “removed,” “replaced,” “self-service machines” and “reference books.” These choices communicate several changes, but the range is limited and some wording is imprecise or repetitive. For example, “a lot of changes can be seen” is general, while “turned into” is less suitable for describing a room’s new function. Spelling errors such as “enterance,” “Childern” and “informtion” are noticeable, and “cafe” should be written “café” (or “cafe” consistently). Aim for precise location and change vocabulary, such as “relocated,” “converted into” and “in the former…”; this will make comparisons clearer and more formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentences, for example, “Overall, the enterance remains at the same place, although…” and “Adult fiction books remained at the same place, however…”. However, errors are frequent enough to make several sentences awkward. The opening should be “The map diagram represents…”, with subject–verb agreement; “there are a lot of changes can be seen” incorrectly combines two structures. The sentence about the central space also needs a clearer grammatical link, such as “This creates a large open space…”. In the final sentence, “Reading room now becomes…” needs an article and a consistent past-to-present comparison. Practise accurate sentence patterns for describing past and current layouts, and use full stops rather than joining independent clauses with commas.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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