Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-19

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 compares the floor plan of a central library that , how it was looked 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Overall, Major change occures that sitting area is complety remove from the middle.There are also some new books department and a few service machines are developed.

Firstly , CDs , videos and computer games area are converted into hall , where now stroytelling events are organize and also sitting facility are made over their and children's fiction book section are transfered there.Adult fiction books are removed from there and All reference books are seatling over there.Reading room are converted into a computer room.Major change that occurs is table and chairs are removed from middle of the library.

Children's books section are now become Lecture room and besides this , Adult non-fiction books dapartment are converted into a adult fiction books and with that there are service facility such as information desk and self-service machines are developed.Lastly , enquiry desk are now removed and cafe area developed over there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main transformation: the central tables and chairs are removed, several rooms change function, and new facilities appear. The overview also signals the broad shift in the library’s layout, while the body covers changes on both sides of the plan. Most details are grounded in the diagram, including the former reading room becoming a computer room and the enquiry area being replaced by a café. However, some descriptions are unclear or imprecise: the former CDs room becomes a children’s fiction/storytelling room, not simply a “hall,” and the new reference section is in the former adult-fiction area. The information desk and self-service machines are also worth reporting as distinct additions. This covers the task well overall, but some features are less fully and precisely explained than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by two paragraphs describing changes, and words such as “Firstly,” “besides this,” and “Lastly” help signal sequence. However, progression within the body is not consistently clear: the first paragraph moves between the upper-left, middle-left, lower-left and central areas without a stable spatial order. Several sentences also combine multiple changes, making relationships difficult to follow, particularly the sentence beginning “CDs, videos and computer games area are converted into hall.” Use a consistent route around the plan, such as left side, centre, then right side, and give each sentence one or two related changes. More precise referencing would also help readers understand what “there” and “over there” refer to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library layout, including “floor plan,” “section,” “converted,” “removed,” and “self-service machines.” This gives you enough language to communicate the main changes. However, noticeable spelling and word-choice problems reduce precision: “occures,” “complety,” “stroytelling,” “transfered,” and “dapartment” are misspelled, while “sitting facility” and “service facility” are not natural descriptions in this context. “Hall” is also too general for the room now used for children’s fiction and storytelling events. Aim for accurate, conventional map vocabulary and check spelling carefully; terms such as “area,” “room,” “section,” and “replaced by” can describe the changes more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, and the reader can generally identify the intended comparisons. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, especially with articles, agreement, verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “The diagram compares the floor plan … that, how it was looked” is not a well-formed comparison, and “Major change occures that sitting area is complety remove” has problems with both clause structure and passive verb form. Agreement is also unreliable in “Reading room are converted” and “Children’s books section are now become.” Practise clear passive patterns for map changes, such as “The reading room was converted into a computer room,” and check singular/plural agreement and articles. More accurate sentence patterns would make your comparisons easier to follow.

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

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