Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20

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 6.5)

The provided maps demonstrate the floor plan of a central library, how it looked before 20 years ago and now.

Overall, there are significant changes in the public library. Computer games, children's books, enquiry books, and the reading room have been replaced by children's fiction books, a lecture room, a cafe, and a computer room. In addition, tables and chairs have been removed from the middle area.

In the center, the old tables and chairs were removed to create a large, open entrance. To the west side of the main entrance, the previous enquiry desk was replaced by a cafe. Furthermore, the reading room for newspapers on the east side was transformed into a new computer room.

Considerable changes also in the book section. The adult fiction books on the left were replaced with reference books. At the back left, the CD, videos, and games room expanded into a children's fiction area with comfortable sofas and storytelling events. On the opposite side, the adult non-fiction areas were renovated by an information desk with new self-service machines. Finally, the old children's room was turned into a lecture room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main features of the library's transformation. You have successfully highlighted key changes, such as the removal of tables and the introduction of new facilities like the cafe and lecture room. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the overall trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, when mentioning the 'adult fiction books on the left were replaced with reference books', ensure the spatial orientation remains consistent with the diagram. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the significant changes observed between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by location or theme. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'On the opposite side' helps guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different areas of the library. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is always smooth; some sentences feel slightly mechanical. However, the progression of ideas is clear throughout, and the referencing of locations is generally easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'transformed', 'renovated', and 'replaced' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are minor issues with word choice, such as 'enquiry books' (likely referring to an enquiry desk) and 'renovated by an information desk', which is slightly awkward phrasing. Improving the precision of your collocations would elevate your score. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical errors, such as the fragment 'Considerable changes also in the book section' (missing a verb) and the slightly awkward opening sentence structure, these do not impede communication. You demonstrate control over basic structures and attempt more complex ones. To achieve a higher band, focus on ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and work on reducing minor errors in preposition usage and sentence construction to ensure greater accuracy.

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

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