Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-02

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)

This diagram illustrate the difference between the public libraray floor plan which has been placed 20 years ago and the present floor design.

Back in 20 years ago, the libraray floor design includes tables and chairs right in the middle of the libraray floor. There is four different section in the four different corner of the library. Top right and left corner contains CDs,vedios computer games and children's books. The bottom both corner's are for reading room where you read newspapers and magazines and also enquiry desk. And, in the right and left of the tables and chairs, there is adult fiction books and adult non-fiction books.

Currently, There is a vast change happen in all four corner including, computer room, lecture room, cafe, children's fiction books, and also storytelling in the same corner take placed. Tables and chairs pulls out from the public library. Self services machines and information desk are the new inclusion in the library with adult fiction books and all refrence books in the hall of the libraray.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main change: the central tables and chairs have been removed, while the current plan includes new facilities such as a computer room, lecture room and café. You also compare several former and present book areas, so the response is relevant to the task. However, the account is only partly complete and some details are unclear or inaccurate. For example, the old plan had a reading room in the bottom-left corner and an enquiry desk in the bottom-right, not reading rooms in both corners. The current plan’s information desk and self-service machines are specifically in the adult-fiction area, while the reference books occupy the middle-left area. Add a clear overview of the major reorganisation and describe the locations more precisely to develop the comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a basic, sensible progression from the earlier plan to the current one, and phrases such as “Back in 20 years ago” and “Currently” signal the time contrast. The information is also grouped into two main paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the comparison. However, the first paragraph combines several locations in long, loosely connected sentences, and the second lists new features without clearly explaining how they relate to the old layout. Some references, such as “the bottom both corner’s,” are difficult to interpret. Organise the description by areas or by major changes, and use clearer linking and reference—for example, distinguish the left and right sides before describing the new rooms and service facilities.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “floor plan,” “enquiry desk,” “self services machines” and “information desk.” This gives you enough topic language to communicate the broad changes. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings reduce precision: “libraray” is repeated, “vedios” is misspelled, and “vast change happen” is not a natural collocation. “Inclusion” is also an awkward choice for newly added facilities. Aim for accurate, specific terms and avoid repeating “corner” and “library” when clearer alternatives are available. Phrases such as “was converted into,” “was replaced by” and “new facilities were added” would make the comparisons more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a comparison of the central area and the surrounding sections. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, tense, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the description harder to follow. For example, “This diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “There is four different section” requires a plural construction. “Back in 20 years ago” is not a correct time expression, and “a vast change happen” has an incorrect verb form. Capitalisation after commas is also inconsistent, as in “Currently, There.” Practise describing past and present layouts with accurate past-tense forms and complete, clearly punctuated sentences.

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