Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The pictures illustrate the layout of the central library 20 years ago and how it looks today.

Overall, the public library underwent significant changes including removal of chairs and tables from the centers and other areas changed for different purposes. However, the entrance and the layout remain unchanged.

Looking at the details, on the right upper corner there was a children's book area which replaced by a lecture room. Meanwhile on the lower right corner, an enquiry desk was converted in to a cafe. In the middle of these two areas, there was a space for adult non-fiction books which have been changed to adult-fiction books and addition of information desk and self service machines.

On the upper left corner, a computer game area replaced by children's fiction books and addition of sofas for stroytelling events. Adult fiction books area and a reading room was converted into all reference books and a computer room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main transformation and several important changes, including the new lecture room, café, computer room, and information desk. The overview also notes that the entrance remains in the same place. However, the overview is imprecise: the library’s overall layout did not remain unchanged, since the central tables and chairs were removed and several areas were reorganised. Some details are incomplete, such as the new self-service machines and the change from adult fiction to reference books on the left. The response contains 146 words, below the required 150; the eight words copied from the prompt are excluded from the count. Add a little more accurate detail and clarify the overall changes to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes on each side of the plan. This makes the main comparisons reasonably easy to follow, and phrases such as “Meanwhile” and “In the middle of these two areas” help connect locations. However, the progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes unclear, particularly in the final sentence, where several changes are compressed together. The overview also groups the changes vaguely as “other areas changed for different purposes.” Use clearer location-based sequencing and separate distinct transformations into complete, well-linked sentences. This would make the organisation more coherent and reduce the impression of a list.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a floor plan, including “layout,” “converted,” “enquiry desk,” and “reference books.” These choices communicate the main changes, but the range is limited and some collocations or forms are inaccurate. For example, “removal of chairs and tables from the centers” is less natural than describing them as removed from the central area, while “addition of sofas” needs a more natural construction. There are also spelling and spacing errors, including “stroytelling” and “self service.” Aim for more precise verbs such as “replaced by,” “relocated,” or “repurposed,” and check spelling and compound forms. Greater accuracy and variety would make the descriptions more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including the overview sentence beginning “Overall” and comparisons introduced by “Meanwhile.” The meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “which replaced by a lecture room” needs a passive form (“which was replaced by”), and “an enquiry desk was converted in to a cafe” has an incorrect preposition and article pattern. In “which have been changed,” the verb does not agree with the singular “space.” The final sentence also joins several changes without a clear grammatical structure. Practise accurate passive constructions and ensure each comparison has a complete clause with consistent tense.

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

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