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 changes made in the floor plan of a public library 2 decades ago and how it looks today.

Overall, the public library has undergone several significant changes over the period. The area for adult fiction books has now been converted into a reference book section, while adult non-fictional book's section has been removed with other three facilities. Sections consist of computer games, reading and enquiries has also been replaced with other activities. However, the ables and the chairs has been removed in today's central library.

In 2020, The section for videos and computer games and children's book was situated in the north of the library, which has now been converted into an area for lectures and where storytelling events take place. In the west of the library, there was area for adult fictional which now has converted into the section of all books, whereas in the east side of the library, the section for non-fictional book is now relaced with information desk and self-service machine area.

In the south there was a reading room 20 years ago, and now it has been replaced with a computer lab. In addition, enquiry desk in converted in to cafe. The only things that are removed is the tables and the chairs, which upgrades into the sofas in the events section.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide a clear overview of substantial changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs and the replacement of the reading room and enquiry desk. You also compare several areas from the earlier plan with their current uses. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the adult fiction area is now labelled “All reference books,” but the response says “all books,” and the former children’s books room is now a lecture room, while storytelling events are in the former CDs and games room. The claim that the sofas replaced the tables and chairs is also misleading: the sofas are in the storytelling room. More precise reporting of these locations, and clearer coverage of the café and computer room, would make the account more complete and accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes by location. This gives the reader a basic route through the plan, and phrases such as “In the west” and “In the south” help organise the comparisons. However, progression is sometimes difficult to follow because several changes are compressed into broad statements, such as “replaced with other activities,” without identifying each room clearly. The overview also repeats details that are developed later, while the final sentence introduces the sofas in a way that does not clearly connect them to the earlier plan. Use one paragraph for the main overall changes and group the detailed comparisons consistently by side or room.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “converted,” “situated,” “section,” and “replaced.” These choices help communicate the main transformations. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, which occasionally makes the meaning unclear. For example, “adult fictional” is not a natural label for the book section, “all books” does not accurately convey “all reference books,” and “upgrades into the sofas” does not express the relationship between the old furniture and the new plan. There are also spelling errors such as “relaced” and “ables.” Aim for precise labels from the diagram and use natural phrases such as “was replaced by” or “was converted into.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including relative clauses such as “which has now been converted” and contrasts introduced by “whereas.” However, grammatical errors occur across the response and sometimes make relationships between changes difficult to understand. Examples include “the tables and the chairs has been removed,” where the plural subject requires a plural verb, and “enquiry desk in converted in to cafe,” which has errors in verb form, article use, and sentence construction. Tense and sentence boundaries also need attention: “In 2020, The section” uses an unnecessary capital, and the past-to-present comparisons are not always formed consistently. Practise accurate past and present passive forms, subject–verb agreement, and articles in descriptions of changes.

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