Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-22

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 displays the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now. Compared to last few years a-lot of settings has been changed.

It is clear that 20 years ago at the left side of the entrance there was a reading room which is now developed as computer room. Enquiry room was at the right side of the entrance but in new plan the room is converted into a cafe with a different measurements.

Moreover, children's room is developed as lecture room in the new plan. The room dedicated to cds, videos and computer games is now changed to storytelling events and children's fiction books room with 2 sofas in it. The entire outdoor area was dedicated for adult fiction and adult non-fiction books including 2 tables and a few chairs in it but in new plan left side after the computer room is now developed as all reference books and at the right side next to cafe is developed as adult fiction books, information desk and some self-service machines.

Overall, the new plans looks the space is utilised properly and it looks more convenient compared to previous plan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify several major changes, including the former reading room becoming a computer room, the enquiry area being replaced by a café, and the children’s room becoming a lecture room. You also report the shift from CDs and games to children’s fiction and storytelling, and the replacement of the central tables with reference books and service facilities. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the former children’s books room became the lecture room, while the CDs room became the children’s fiction/storytelling room; your wording risks reversing these. The plan shows an indoor central area, not an “outdoor area,” and the new layout’s greater convenience is an unsupported judgement. A clearer overview of the main reorganisation and more precise comparisons would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable progression: it introduces the comparison, describes changes around the entrance and rooms, and ends with an overall comment. Linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Overall” help signal movement between points. However, most of the information is compressed into one long body paragraph, so the room-by-room comparisons are difficult to follow. Some references are also unclear, particularly “the room” in the sentence about the children’s room and the CDs room, and “the entire outdoor area,” which makes the layout harder to visualise. Organise the report into a brief overview and separate paragraphs for the left and right sides, and use explicit labels such as “the former CDs room” to make connections clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a plan, including “floor plan,” “reading room,” “computer room,” “lecture room,” “information desk,” and “self-service machines.” This gives you enough range to communicate the main changes. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “developed as” and “converted into” are repeated where “replaced by” or “repurposed as” would be more suitable, and “different measurements” is vague. “Outdoor area” mislabels an indoor space, while “a-lot” is incorrectly written and “cafe” should be accented as “café” in standard spelling. Aim for precise terms for locations and changes, and avoid evaluative phrases such as “utilised properly” when the diagram only shows the arrangement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “which is now…” and clauses introduced by “but” and “while.” The main meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Compared to last few years” needs an article and does not match the stated 20-year comparison; “a-lot of settings has been changed” has agreement problems; and “the new plans looks” should use a singular subject with “look” or a plural subject with “look.” Articles and prepositions are also inconsistent in phrases such as “at the left side of the entrance.” Use shorter, controlled sentences when listing changes, and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and tense consistency during revision.

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