Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-04

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 5.0)

This diagram bellow illustrate the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

overall, the central library 20 years ago made up of games, adult fiction books and reading newspaper at the left. central library today accounted for storytelling events area and all references books and also computer room at the left

notably old library made up of CDs, video and computer games below this is adult fiction books

and at the corner there is a reading news portion, in between tables and chairs. on the right side there is children books below that, adult fiction and after that enquiry desk.

specially, todays library there is sofa where story telling events children fiction books and computer room. below that there is entrance and on the right side there is lecture room below that there is adult fiction books and information desk, furthermore self-service machines and cafe exist at the end

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the two time periods and mention several relevant features, including the former tables and chairs, the reading room, and the present-day computer room and café. However, the comparison is incomplete and some locations are unclear or inaccurate: for example, the café is at the bottom right, not simply “at the end,” and the current plan’s self-service machines and information desk are not clearly related to the adult-fiction area. There is no clear overview of the main changes, such as the removal of the central seating and the conversion of several rooms to new uses. The response also falls short of the 150-word minimum: it contains 141 words, with 15 words copied from the prompt excluded. Add a concise overview and report the key changes more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the plans, describes the older layout, and then turns to the current one. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, the progression within the descriptions is not consistently clear, and the overview is difficult to distinguish from the details. Connectors such as “notably,” “specially,” and “furthermore” are used, but they do not always show the relationship between features; “below that” is also repeated without a clear reference point. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and each plan, and describe locations in a consistent route, such as left side, centre, then right side. Clearer referencing would make the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “floor plan,” “adult fiction books,” “entrance,” “information desk,” and “self-service machines.” This shows a basic ability to communicate the main subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “all references books,” “reading news portion,” and “cafe exist at the end.” These expressions make some details less precise. Spelling and form also need attention, including “bellow” and “todays.” Aim to use the labels from the plan accurately and vary location language with phrases such as “in the upper-left corner” or “on the right-hand side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both a longer opening sentence and shorter location statements, but sentence structures are mostly simple and control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in “This diagram bellow illustrate” and “cafe exist,” while missing or incorrect articles and plural forms occur in phrases such as “there is sofa” and “children books.” Several sentences run together or lack clear punctuation, particularly the description beginning “specially, todays library.” These problems sometimes make relationships between locations difficult to understand. Practise accurate present and past-tense descriptions, check subject–verb agreement and articles, and use full stops to separate each main feature. A few well-controlled complex sentences can then help express comparisons.

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

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