Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-24

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 8.0)

The diagrams given depict changes in the Central Library from 20 years ago to present day.

Overall, the purpose and facilities offered by the library have drastically changed, incorporating more modern facilities and needs. Some rooms, such as the replacement of the reading room by a computer room, have also been transformed. The purpose of the library has changed from primarly for books to a wide variety of facilities.

At both time periods, the library consists of a central region as well as four rooms at each corner. All four rooms have altered over the years, both in size and function. Most notably, the CDs, videos and computer games room at the north west corner has been made bigger and modified into a children's section, where it not only has fiction books but also has storytelling events.

Additionally, the room on the far right corner from the entrance now hosts lectures and talks instead of a section for children's literature.

The enquiry desk has been replaced by a cafe, as the functions of the enquiry desk (such as book returns, information services, etc) can now be done by self-service machines and a smaller information desk.

The central region remains similar at both time periods, hosting sections of books. However, the tables and chairs have now been removed. Another notable change is the adult fiction section moving from the west side to the east side of the central region, and the west side now including all reference books.

The Central Library has effectively adapted to the changing resources needed by the population it serves.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have provided a clear overview and successfully identified the key changes between the two floor plans. You effectively highlighted the transformation of specific rooms, such as the conversion of the enquiry desk into a cafe and the repurposing of the children's section. The comparison between the past and present is well-integrated throughout the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, when mentioning the 'room on the far right corner', explicitly naming the room's function in the past would improve clarity. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well and provided a logical summary of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs focusing on specific areas of the library, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'Most notably' effectively to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the discussion of room functions from the central layout changes. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. To improve, ensure that the transition between the description of the rooms and the central region is even more seamless to avoid a slightly segmented feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing diagrams, such as 'incorporating', 'transformed', 'modified', and 'repurposed'. The use of topic-specific language like 'enquiry desk', 'self-service machines', and 'reference books' is accurate. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally precise. To move into the higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to describe the nature of the changes, such as 'undergone a complete reconfiguration' instead of 'have also been transformed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use passive voice appropriately when describing the changes (e.g., 'has been made bigger', 'have now been removed'). There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is accurate throughout. The sentence structure is varied, which helps maintain the flow of the report. To achieve a higher score, ensure that your subject-verb agreement remains consistent, particularly in complex sentences, and continue to experiment with more varied subordinating conjunctions to enhance the sophistication of your sentence construction.

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