Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given two diagrams provide information about the floor plan of a public library two decades ago and compares who it looks now.

Overall, it can be seen that the area underwent significant changes, with several new rooms and facilities being constructed.

To begin with, On the northern left side of the library there use to be CDs, videos and computer games section, under that there were Adult fictional books area. On the left side of the enterence there were a room for reading, newspapers and magazines. In the middle of the library there used to be tables and chairs.

Talking about the today's central library, The CDs, videos and computer games area has been replaced by different things there are two sofa's in the hall, and the area for the Adult fiction room has been converted in to Children's fictional books and also a Story telling are has been constructed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response identifies the broad topic and gives a basic overview that the library has changed, then describes a few features of the earlier and current plans. However, it addresses the task only partially: most of the important comparisons are missing, including the former children’s books room becoming a lecture room, the reading room becoming a computer room, and the enquiry desk area becoming a café. The description of the current plan is also inaccurate: the two sofas and storytelling events are in the former CDs/media room, while the former adult-fiction area is now the reference-books section. The overview is too general to convey the main changes. Report the major conversions accurately and cover both sides of the plan to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph about the former layout and one about the current library. Phrases such as “To begin with” and “Talking about” signal a shift in focus. However, progression is limited because the response stops after describing only a small part of the current plan, and the comparisons between corresponding areas are not clearly developed. The long final sentence combines several changes, making the relationships between locations difficult to follow. Use a clearer sequence, such as describing the left side, then the right side, and explicitly comparing each area across the two plans. More precise linking and paragraph development would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “floor plan,” “replaced,” “converted,” and “constructed.” This gives it enough basic language to communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “Adult fictional books,” “Story telling are,” and “different things.” Spelling errors in “enterence” and “use to” also reduce accuracy and polish. Aim for precise labels and natural map-description phrases, such as “adult fiction section,” “storytelling area,” and “the former room was converted into…”. A wider range of accurate location and change vocabulary would help you describe the plans more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including the overview clause beginning “Overall, it can be seen…” and a sentence linking several changes with “and.” However, control is uneven, and errors sometimes make the intended relationships unclear. For example, “compares who it looks now” has an incorrect clause structure, while “there use to be” and “the area … has been converted in to” show problems with verb forms and sentence patterns. Capitalisation after commas is also inconsistent, as in “To begin with, On…” and “library, The…”. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions of the former plan and present-tense descriptions of the current one, and divide long sentences into clearer units.

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

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