Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-17

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 provided layouts illustrate the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and in present time. Overall, the library experienced remarkable teansformation with the addition of new amenities such as the computer room, self service machines, information desk and lecture room.

To begin with, earlier the library had a southern entrance, with tables and chairs occupying the central area of the library. Towards the south west end is a reading room consisting of news papers and magazines, with an enquiry desk located in the opposite end.Towards the north of the reading room is an area allocated to adult fiction books and immediately next to it is an area for CD's video's and computer games.On the opposite side there's an area limited to children's books, towards the south is an area for adult non fiction books immediately above the enquiry desk.

In contrast, after redevelopment the southern entrance remained unchanged but the reading room in the south west was replaced with a computer room, immediately next to it was an area allocated to all reference books, which was followed by an area for children's fiction books .This area consisted of sofas and the tables and chairs previous

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main change as a redevelopment and correctly note that the entrance stayed in the south and that the former reading room became a computer room. You also report several earlier locations accurately. However, the comparison is only partly completed: the response ends mid-sentence at “the tables and chairs previous,” and gives little account of important current features such as the café, lecture room, information desk, self-service machines, or the relocation of adult fiction. The overview mentions new amenities but does not summarise the broader reorganisation of the library. Develop the present-day description and complete the comparison so the main changes are clearly covered.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by descriptions of the earlier and current layouts. Spatial language such as “Towards the south west,” “immediately next to it,” and “On the opposite side” helps the reader follow locations. However, progression becomes difficult in the final paragraph because the account is incomplete, ending with “the tables and chairs previous.” Some sentences also pack several locations together, making the relationships harder to track, and the transition “In contrast” does not lead to a fully developed comparison. Use separate, clearly ordered sentences for the current layout and finish with a concise comparison of the key changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of map vocabulary, including “floor plan,” “occupying the central area,” “allocated to,” “opposite,” and “redevelopment.” These choices generally communicate the locations and changes, and the attempt to use terms such as “amenities” adds some variety. There are, however, several spelling and form errors, including “teansformation,” “news papers,” and “non fiction,” as well as inconsistent apostrophes in “CD's video's.” Some phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “area limited to children's books” and “in present time.” Aim for accurate, conventional forms and more natural collocations, for example “an area containing children’s books” and “at present.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses that describe relative positions, such as “Towards the north of the reading room is an area allocated to adult fiction books.” The main relationships are usually understandable. However, control is uneven: the final sentence is unfinished, and some long sentences join several ideas without clear punctuation, as in the description beginning “Towards the north of the reading room.” There are also errors in sentence boundaries and spacing, such as “end.Towards,” and the phrase “the tables and chairs previous” lacks a complete grammatical structure. Use shorter, complete sentences when listing locations, and check clause structure, punctuation, and tense consistency before finishing.

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