Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-29

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 illustrates the floor plan of a loacal library 20 years older and in second diagram it shows how it looks now.

Overall, the stucture of whole library floor changed. CDs, videos and computer games changed into children's fictin books and storrytelling events. Whereas, reading room like newspapers and magzines turned into computer room.

Firstly, before 20 years age at the top left corner there was CDs, videos and computer games but nowadays, there are storytelling events and children's fiction books and add sofa's on both corners. On the right hand side at the top, there was children's book but now it converted into lecture room. Moreover, in the centre of library floor there was adult fiction books on the right side and adult non-fiction books on the left side. In centre, ther was tables and chairs. Whereas, In curent scnario, there are all reference books on the left side and in right side there in adult fiction books, information desk and self-service machines.

Secondly, in the left downside, there was reading room such as newspapers and magazines but for now their is computer room. As we talk about the opposide direction there was Enquiy desk for example, tickets, book returns etc but now there in a cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main purpose of the diagrams and give a useful overview that the library has been substantially reorganised. Several important changes are reported accurately, including the former media room becoming a children’s fiction/storytelling area, the reading room becoming a computer room, and the enquiry desk area becoming a café. You also compare the former central seating area with the current reference and fiction sections. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the earlier adult fiction and non-fiction areas are reversed in your description, and the current lecture room and café are not clearly linked to the former children’s-book and enquiry-desk areas. The overview could also summarise the broader changes more precisely, such as the removal of central tables and chairs and the addition of new facilities.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing locations and changes. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the plan, and phrases such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help signal progression. However, the organisation is sometimes mechanical, and the sequence of details shifts between sides and time periods, making comparisons harder to follow. For example, the sentence beginning “Moreover, in the centre” mixes the earlier layout with the current one, while “Whereas, In current scenario” does not connect smoothly to the preceding point. Grouping changes by area and consistently comparing “before” with “now” would make the progression clearer. Use linking words selectively and ensure each reference, such as “there” or “the opposite direction,” has a clear location.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “floor plan,” “self-service machines,” “reference books,” and “information desk,” which helps convey the library’s features. There are also attempts to describe change with words such as “changed into” and “turned into.” However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “loacal,” “stucture,” “fictin,” “storrytelling,” and “magzines,” and some word choices or collocations are awkward. For instance, “20 years older” does not express the intended time comparison, and “add sofa’s” is not a natural way to describe the new furniture. More precise verbs such as “was replaced by,” “was converted into,” and “was relocated” would improve clarity and formality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrasts with “Whereas” and clauses introduced by “but.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between features unclear. Examples include “20 years older” in the opening, “there was adult fiction books,” and “now there in a cafe,” where tense, agreement, or verb forms are not controlled. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention: “Whereas, In curent scnario” is not smoothly attached to the previous sentence, and capitalisation is inconsistent. Practise using accurate past and present forms in paired comparisons—for example, “There was a reading room, which has now been replaced by a computer room”—and check subject–verb agreement and articles.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.