Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-14

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 5.0)

The diagram illustrates the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks today.

Overall, all the rooms in have been changed in the past 20 years. New area have been assigned. a cafe is built as well as a computer room. A lecture room is also made, some sofas are arranged in storytelling events room. The tables and chairs are also remove. Some new self-service machines are installed along with an information desk. The adult fiction books area is converted into adults non-fiction books area and the old area of adult fiction books is devoted to all reference books.

The room for reading newspapers and magazines have been converted into computer room. The children's books room have also been changed into lecture room, while the CDs,videos and computer room have gone through major upgradations with the addition of two sofas and children's fiction books, storytelling events are also organised in the room. The enquiry desk has been transformed into a cafe.

The tables and chairs are removed from the centre. The adult fiction is replaced with adult non-fiction. Some new self-services machines are installed and a new information desk is constructed along with it. All reference books are added between computer room and children's fiction books room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several major changes, including the new café, computer room, lecture room and self-service machines, and you compare the earlier and current layouts. However, some key details are inaccurate: the adult fiction area became the reference-book area, while the adult non-fiction area became adult fiction—not the reverse stated in your overview and final paragraph. The former CDs/videos/games room became a children’s fiction and storytelling room; the sofas were added there, rather than the room being upgraded with children’s books in a way that clearly describes its new use. The overview also says “all the rooms” changed, which overgeneralises. More accurate comparisons and a clearer summary of the main reorganisation would make the response more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, so there is an attempt to organise the comparison. However, the progression is difficult to follow because changes are repeated: the removal of the tables and chairs and the new machines appear in both the overview and the final paragraph. The overview also mixes broad changes with individual details, while the later paragraphs do not consistently group changes by location or by old-to-new use. Some links between ideas are unclear, particularly “The adult fiction is replaced with adult non-fiction” followed by “All reference books are added between…” A clearer sequence—overview first, then left-side changes and right-side changes—would improve the organisation and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “converted,” “installed,” “enquiry desk” and “self-service machines.” This gives you enough range to communicate the main changes, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes make the meaning less clear. For example, “upgradations” is not a natural choice here, and “the adult fiction books area is converted into adults non-fiction books area” uses imprecise phrasing for the changes shown. “New area have been assigned” is also vague. Aim for precise map language such as “was replaced by,” “was relocated” or “was converted into,” and check spelling and word forms, including “café” and “self-service.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including passive constructions such as “is built,” “have been converted” and “are installed,” as well as a longer sentence describing several changes. However, errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to interpret. Examples include “all the rooms in have been changed,” “New area have been assigned,” and “The room … have been converted,” where agreement and sentence construction are faulty. Tense and passive forms are also inconsistent when describing changes over the past 20 years: use forms such as “was converted” and “were removed.” Punctuation is problematic in “CDs,videos,” and the sentence beginning “The adult fiction books area…” needs clearer grammatical structure. Practise accurate past-passive sentences.

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