Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-08

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 6.0)

The diagram given below illustrates the layout of the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks after redesigned.

Overall, the library has been modernized, with several areas being replaced by facilities such as a cafe, computer room and lecture room. The children's and adult fiction section have also been reorganized.

Twenty years ago, the library contained areas for CDs, videos and computer games in the top left corner, while fiction and non-fiction books occupied the middle section. There was also a reading room with newspapers and magazines in the bottom left, while enquiry desk was situated in the bottom right corner of the library. Tables and chairs were placed in the center.

Today, the former media area has been replaced by a children's fiction books with sofas and space for storytelling events. The reading book has become an area for reference books, and a computer room has added at the bottom-left. On the right side, there is now a lecture room and area for adult fiction books. An information desk and self-service machines have replaced the old enquiry desk. While a cafe has been added in the bottom right corner of the library.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the library floor plan and provided a clear comparison between the two time periods. The overview is effective, highlighting the modernization and the specific functional changes. You have covered all key areas, such as the media area, the reading room, and the introduction of new facilities like the cafe and self-service machines. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently use accurate terminology for all features mentioned in the diagram, as some descriptions were slightly imprecise, such as referring to the 'reading room' as 'reading book'. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the past and present states of the library. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Twenty years ago', 'Today', and 'While', to link your ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical at times. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother. For instance, the final sentence starting with 'While' is a sentence fragment that could be better integrated into the previous sentence to improve flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'modernized', 'reorganized', and 'self-service machines' appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'reading book' instead of 'reading room' and 'after redesigned' instead of 'after being redesigned'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that your word choices are consistently accurate. Expanding your vocabulary related to describing spatial changes would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'a computer room has added' (should be passive: 'has been added') and 'a children's fiction books' (subject-verb agreement error). Additionally, the sentence 'While a cafe has been added in the bottom right corner of the library' is grammatically incomplete. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. Increasing your control over passive voice constructions and article usage will help you achieve a higher band score.

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

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