Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-30

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 below illustrates the floor plan of a citizens library 20 years ago and how it look now. All in all, today library is totally different from the past. Library contains same location off room but changed into different names and the tables and chairs are removed from the main hall.

In the past, the public library contains four major room and in top right corner had children's book room but now its name is lecture room. After this, in the left top corner had CDs, videos, or computer games room but now it is totally different and it contain sofas and children's fiction books as well as storytelling events. The main hall was contains of tables and chairs in the centre if the hall, However, it is removed

Following this, the below right corner had enquiry desk but now it has cafe and Adult fiction books and self-service machines, outer side of cafe. While, the below left coner had reading room but now it has computer room as well as All reference books outside the room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important changes, including the removal of the central tables and chairs, the conversion of the former children’s room into a lecture room, and the new computer room and café. These details are generally relevant, but the overview is broad and does not clearly summarise the main pattern of change. Some locations are also reported inaccurately or unclearly: the café occupies the former enquiry-desk area, while adult fiction books and self-service machines are in the open middle-right area, not “outer side of cafe.” The former top-left room now contains children’s fiction books and storytelling events, rather than simply being described as a room with sofas. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the report more complete and developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic chronological structure, moving from the earlier plan to the current arrangement, and phrases such as “In the past” and “Following this” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is not consistently clear: several changes are packed into long sentences, and the final paragraph combines the former enquiry desk, café, adult fiction area and machines in a way that makes their locations difficult to follow. The overview is also placed at the start but remains general. Organise the report into a concise overview followed by clearly grouped comparisons, such as the upper rooms and then the lower and central areas. Use linking phrases selectively and make each sentence focus on one or two related changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant plan vocabulary, including “floor plan,” “main hall,” “enquiry desk,” “reading room” and “self-service machines,” so the reader can understand the general subject. There is some attempt to vary descriptions with phrases such as “changed into” and “removed.” However, word choice and collocation are often imprecise, including “citizens library,” “same location off room,” and “outer side of cafe.” Repetition of “room” and “now” also limits flexibility. Choose standard terms such as “public library” and “area,” and use precise change language—for example, “was converted into” or “was replaced by.” Check spelling and word forms such as “corner” and “café” to make the description easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to connect ideas in longer sentences, but control of sentence structure and verb forms is inconsistent. Examples include “how it look now,” “the public library contains four major room,” and “The main hall was contains of tables and chairs,” where tense, agreement or verb construction is faulty. The sentence beginning “While, the below left coner…” is also incomplete as written, and punctuation around “However” does not clearly separate the clauses. These errors sometimes make relationships between features difficult to understand. Use the past tense for the earlier plan and the present tense for today, and build comparisons with reliable patterns such as “The former reading room has been replaced by a computer room.” Shorter, complete sentences would improve accuracy.

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