Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 map compares the map of a public library between 20 years ago and how it looks today.

Overall, it can be seen that the library had observed a number of changes within 20 years.

To begin with the West side, 20 years back, there were a place for CDs, videos, computer games on the North side and a room for reading newspapers and magazines on the South part. In between these, there was shelfs for adult fiction books. Conversely, Now the reading room is replaced by a computer room and all the reference books are kept in the middle. The room on the North side is used fro strorytelling events and childern fictional books are kept there.

Moving to the East side, there were a room for children's book on the North side ,enquiry dest on the South side and adult non-fiction books were kept in the middle. At present, a lecture room is created on the Northern part and a cafe is opened on the Southern side. The cair

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify several important changes, including the former reading room becoming a computer room, the addition of a lecture room and café, and the change to the northern-left room. However, the response only partially covers the plan: it does not describe major current features such as the information desk and self-service machines, or the removal of the central tables and chairs. The overview, “a number of changes,” is too general to summarise the main pattern, and the final sentence is cut off, leaving the eastern-side comparison incomplete. Some details are also unclear, such as what replaced the former children’s-books room. A stronger response would give a clear overview of the main reorganisations and report the key changes on both sides accurately and completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by separate paragraphs for the west and east sides. Phrases such as “To begin with” and “Moving to the East side” help signal the sequence, so the reader can generally follow the comparisons. However, the progression is weakened by the abrupt ending at “The cair,” which leaves the final comparison unfinished, and some references are not fully clear—for example, “In between these” requires the reader to infer which two rooms are meant. The repeated use of “side” and “part” also makes the description feel somewhat mechanical. Complete each section and use clearer links between the former and current layouts to improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “replaced,” “kept,” “North side,” and “Southern side,” and the reader can understand many of the changes. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling errors reduce precision: “a place for CDs” is vague, “shelfs” is misspelled, and “enquiry dest” and “childern fictional books” are difficult to interpret. “The library had observed” is also an unnatural choice for describing a plan. Aim for precise map vocabulary such as “located,” “converted into,” and “section,” and check spelling carefully. More accurate phrasing would make the comparisons clearer without requiring more complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast introduced by “Conversely” and the time comparison in “20 years back” and “At present.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships between features difficult to follow. Examples include “there were a place,” where the verb does not agree with the singular noun, and “there were a room,” which has the same problem. The opening phrase “The map compares the map” is also awkwardly constructed, while “a room … and adult non-fiction books were kept” combines structures unevenly. The final sentence is incomplete. Practise accurate there was/there were constructions, articles, and complete sentence endings, then proofread each sentence for agreement and structure.

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