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 diagram illustrates the floor plan of a commercial library 20 years earlier and how it looks now.

Overall, it can be seen that the location underwent substantial redevelopment, with several new facilities being added and some existing features being removed and replaced by modern features.

In the origninal plan, the central area covered with tables and chairs, along with adult non-fiction books on the eastern side and adult fiction books on the western part. In addition, cds, videos and computer located in the northwest corner and childerm's books in the cornernortheast. Furthermore, in the southwest the reading roon constructed and equiry desk room designed in the southeast side.

Following the reconstruction, the most noticeable change is that the sitting area has been demolished, and self-service machines have been introduced with adult fiction books.In contrast, computer room removed and it has been re replaced with childern's books along sofa sitting setup,while reading room reconfigured with computer room. While, all reference books replaced by adult fiction books. The equiring desk has been dimished and converted into a cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You provide an overview of substantial redevelopment and describe several relevant changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs, the addition of a café, and the new children’s area. However, some key comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. The computer room was not removed and replaced by children’s books: it is now in the southwest, where the reading room used to be, while children’s fiction and storytelling occupy the northwest. You also say the enquiry desk was converted into a café, but the café is in the southeast and the former desk area is now part of the adult-fiction area with self-service machines. These misreadings and the limited coverage of other changes make the summary only partially complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overall statement, and descriptions of the earlier and current layouts. This gives the reader a basic route through the comparison. However, progression within the paragraphs is weakened by unclear or faulty links, such as “In contrast, computer room removed and it has be re replaced…” and the fragment-like “While, all reference books replaced by adult fiction books.” Several changes are compressed into long sentences, making it difficult to distinguish which old feature corresponds to which new one. Organise the details by area or by type of change, and use clear comparison links such as “whereas” and “in the former reading-room area” to make relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of vocabulary relevant to describing change, including “substantial redevelopment,” “introduced,” “reconfigured,” and “converted.” These choices show an effort to go beyond basic location words. However, frequent spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural expressions reduce clarity: “origninal,” “childerm's,” “cornernortheast,” “equiring,” and “dimished” are difficult to interpret, while “sitting area has been demolished” is not an appropriate description of furniture being removed. Some labels are also inaccurately rendered, such as “computer” for “computer games.” Check spelling carefully and use precise map vocabulary, for example “removed,” “relocated,” and “repurposed,” only where the plan supports those meanings.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some complex structures, including “Overall, it can be seen that…” and clauses beginning with “while” and “with,” but attempts at longer sentences are often faulty. Examples include “the central area covered with tables and chairs,” which needs a verb, and “computer room removed,” which lacks an auxiliary. The final paragraph contains run-on or poorly joined clauses, as in “computer room removed and it has be re replaced…”; “While,” also incorrectly introduces a sentence fragment. Articles and sentence punctuation are inconsistent. Practise forming complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check past-tense passive forms such as “was replaced” or “was relocated” before combining ideas.

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