Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-15

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 difference of public library between 20 years.

Overall, it shows few visible changes that occur over the period like changing some rooms and removing few departments completely.

On detailed view, CDs, videos, computer games room and reading room are completely removed as they are non-existent in today's world.Tables & chairs are replaced with sofas and shifted to another room with storytelling and children fiction books. In contrast, the room of children books have been shifted to CDs, videos, computer games room and it is exchanged with lecture room that is a new addition. Therefore, the area with tables & chairs are free, as a result, they replaced adult fiction books with reference books and non-ficition books are removed with Fiction books taking it's place alongside information desk and self serving machines.

Another significant change is the addition of computer room and cafe right at entrance. In comparision, enquiry desk is replaced with self-service machines, and reading room is replaced with computer room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs, the new lecture room, computer room and café, and the reorganisation of book areas. This gives the reader a relevant account of the plan. However, some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear: the children’s books area becomes a lecture room, while children’s fiction and storytelling move into the former CDs/videos room; the sofas are in that room, not simply shifted from the central area. The enquiry desk is not replaced by self-service machines: the machines are in the adult-fiction area, while the enquiry desk disappears. The overview also calls the changes “few,” although the plan shows substantial reorganisation. More precise location-by-location reporting and a clearer overview would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an overall sequence, moving from a brief overview to changes in rooms and then to additions near the entrance. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “Another significant change” help signal relationships. However, the progression is difficult to follow because several changes are combined in long sentences, and some references are unclear. For example, “Therefore, the area with tables & chairs are free” does not clearly explain which areas are being compared, while the final sentence repeats the reading-room/computer-room change already mentioned. Organise the details by side or by former and current function, and use shorter sentences so each comparison is easy to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a plan, including “removed,” “addition,” “replaced,” and “shifted,” and you attempt to distinguish changes with phrases such as “In contrast.” This provides a workable range, but several choices are imprecise or unnatural for map description. “Difference of public library” is not an idiomatic way to introduce the comparison, and “departments” is less suitable than “areas” or “rooms.” There are also spelling errors in “non-ficition” and “comparision,” and “self serving machines” is better expressed as “self-service machines.” Choose precise terms for locations and functions, and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “as” and “as a result,” and the main message is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries. For example, “difference of public library” needs a more complete construction, and “the area with tables & chairs are free” has a singular subject with a plural verb. The sentence beginning “On detailed view” runs into the next sentence at “world.Tables,” making the punctuation difficult to read. There are also awkward tense and reference patterns in “it is exchanged with lecture room.” Use consistent past-to-present comparisons, check subject–verb agreement and articles, and separate each main idea into a complete sentence.

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