Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

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 GIVEN MAP ILLUSTRATES THE FLOOR PLAN OF A CENTRAL LIBRARY 20 YEARS AGO AND TODAY HOW IT LOOKS LIKE.

OVERALL, IT CAN BE OBSERVED THAT 20 YEARS AGO THERE ARE ONLY FEW FACILITY BUT TODAY THERE ARE MANY FACILITY IN PUBLIC LIBRARY. MOREOVER, TABLES AND CHAIRS AND ADULT NOT-FICTION BOOKS IS REMOVED AND ADDED BY INFORMATION DESK AND SELF-SERVICES MACHINES. CAFE AND ALL REFRENCE BOOKS ARE NEWLY BUILT IN TODAY.

TO BEGIN WITH, 20 YEARS AGO THERE ARE ONLY FEW FACILITY IN CENTRAL LIBRARY. IN THE MIDDLE, TABLES AND CHAIRS INSIDE IT FOR STUDENTS.MOREOVER, THE CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND CDS,VIDEOS AND AND COMPUTER'S GAME IN THE NORTH SIDE WITH CONTAIN LARGE AREA. ADULTS FICTION BOOKS LOCATED IN WEST SIDE ASLO ADULT NON-FICTION BOOKS BUILT IN EAST SIDE. FURTHERMORE, THE INQUIRY DESK ABOUT (TICKETS, BOOK RETURNS , ETC.) AND THE READING ROOM WITH NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES ALSO ENTRANCE IN THE SOUTH SIDE.

IN TODAY CENTRAL LIBRARY IS VERY CHANGED. THERE ARE MANY FACILITY INSIDE AND ALSO CENTRAL LIBRARY BUILT IN MODERN. IN THE EAST SIDE ADULT NON-FICTIN BOOKS REPLACED BY ADULT FICTION BOOKS AND NEWLY ADDED INFORMATION DESK AND SELF-SERVICE MACHINES. CHILDRENS BOOKS AND CDS, VIDEOS, COMPETR GAMES IS THE REMOVE AND NEWLY BUILT LECTURE ROOM ,STORYTELLING EVENTS AND DOUBLE SOFE AND CHILDREN FICTION BOOKS BUILT UIN NORTH SIDE ALL REFRENCE BOOKS IS LOCATED IN WEST SIDE. COMPUTER ROOM AND CAFE BUILT NEWLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH MAIN ENTRANCE.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main change over time and report several relevant locations, including the entrance remaining at the south, the former central tables and chairs being removed, and new facilities such as the café, computer room and lecture room. This gives the response a clear task focus. However, some comparisons are inaccurate or unclear: the adult non-fiction area is not simply replaced by adult fiction; the current plan has adult fiction in that area, while all reference books occupy the former adult-fiction section. The overview also says there are “only few” facilities, which is too general, and some changes—such as the reading room’s removal and the new café—could be explained more precisely. Select the major conversions and describe them accurately to make the coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the earlier and current plans. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison, and sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “Furthermore” show an attempt to connect information. However, the progression within the paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several locations and changes are crowded into long sentences. For example, the sentence beginning “Childrens books and CDs…” combines removals, new rooms and furniture without clear boundaries. Some linking words are also mechanical or do not clarify the relationship between details. Group changes by area or by what was replaced, and use shorter, clearly connected sentences with consistent directional references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant map vocabulary, including “floor plan,” “replaced,” “located,” “entrance,” and “self-service machines,” so the reader can identify many of the facilities being discussed. There is also some attempt to use more specific labels from the plan. However, the range and control are limited, with repeated use of “built” and “facility,” and several inaccurate or misspelled forms, such as “refren[ce],” “non-fictin,” “compet[r]” and “sofe.” Some combinations are unnatural, including “built in modern” and “double sofa.” These errors sometimes make details harder to interpret. Use precise verbs such as “converted,” “relocated” or “added,” and check the spelling and exact wording of labels before writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the response generally communicates the broad before-and-after comparison. However, grammatical control is weak in many sentences, particularly with tense, agreement, articles and sentence boundaries. For example, “20 years ago there are only few facility” needs past tense and plural agreement, while “Adult fiction books located in west side” is missing a verb and an article. The opening sentence, “and today how it looks like,” also has an awkward clause structure. Several long sentences join separate ideas without clear punctuation, making relationships difficult to follow. Practise accurate past and present forms, complete clauses, and articles with locations; then build longer sentences only when the connections are clear.

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