Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-13

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 thr floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks today.

From an overall analysis, the floor plan has undergone significant modernisation and modification, with the addition of new facilities such as storytelling events, sofas, computer room and lecture room.

To expound the map in detail, 20 years ago, the floor plan featured CDs, videos, computer games in the north-west corner. To the west of it was an adult fiction books was located in the east of the map. Moreover, the tables and chairs were take place within walking distance to the entrance. In addition, in the north-east direction children's book were situated whereas, the reading room stood in the south-west.

As further scrutiny reveals, at present, the CDs, videos, computer games has been replaced by storytelling events and children's fiction books has been built to the north-west. Additionally, the children's book has been transformed into the lecture room in north-east, just behind the information desk and self-service machines to the east.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad change from the older layout to a more modern library and mention several genuine additions, including the storytelling area, computer room and lecture room. However, the comparison is only partly developed: the response focuses mainly on the north-west and north-east and omits major changes such as the former reading room becoming a computer room, the café replacing the enquiry-desk area, and the relocation of reference and adult-fiction books. There are also inaccurate or unclear details: adult fiction was in the middle-left, not “located in the east,” and the information desk and self-service machines are in the middle-right area, not clearly “just behind” the lecture room. A fuller overview and more accurate coverage of the main changes would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the earlier and current plans. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by unclear spatial relationships, especially “To the west of it was an adult fiction books was located in the east,” which makes the location difficult to follow. The linking phrases “To expound the map in detail” and “As further scrutiny reveals” sound formal but do not always create a clear connection between points. The final paragraph also lists only a few changes and ends without a concluding comparison. Organise the details by matching old and new areas, and use straightforward location links such as “in the same area” or “by contrast.”

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You show a reasonably varied vocabulary for describing a plan, including “modernisation,” “modification,” “north-west corner,” “transformed,” and “situated.” These choices demonstrate some range beyond basic location words, and the main topic remains understandable. The 6.5-level performance is supported by this range and by attempts at more formal phrasing, but some collocations and word choices are not natural or precise: “within walking distance to the entrance” is awkward for describing a nearby position, while “were take place” does not express the intended meaning. “To expound the map” and “as further scrutiny reveals” are also unnecessarily elaborate. Prefer concise, conventional map language, such as “the plan shows,” “was located near,” and “was replaced by.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview sentence beginning “From an overall analysis” and the contrast introduced by “whereas.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships hard to understand. For example, “To the west of it was an adult fiction books was located in the east” contains a broken clause and conflicting locations; “the tables and chairs were take place” has an incorrect verb construction; and “children's book were situated” has a subject–verb agreement error. There are also problems with articles and number, as in “a computer room” versus plural facilities, and with punctuation around “whereas.” Build accurate short sentences first, then combine them, checking each subject, verb and location phrase.

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

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