Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30

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 given diagram depicts the layout of the central public library 20 years ago and how it looks at present.

Overall, the library has experienced a considerable development over the past 20 years, with several new facilities including self-service machines and storytelling events being introduced, while various old structures have been replaced. However, the entrance of the library remains unchanged.

In the past, the layout of the library was very simple, with four main sections including a digital area on the south-western side, from where visitors could use the facility of CDs, videos and computer games, the children's books area in the south-eastern corner. In addition, the reading room containing newspapers and magazines, and an enquiry desk were located at the left-hand and the right-hand sides of the entrance respectively. Furthermore, the central hall of the library was equipped with adult fiction books, tables and chairs and adult non-fiction books.

At present, the library has experienced a significant development, with a lecture room being added in place of former children's books area, while the digital corner has been expanded into Children's fiction books section, which includes storytelling events and sofas for seating. The old enquiry desk has been relocated to the central hall, in the place of former non-fiction books and new self-service machines are also introduced at the same spot, while the former adult fiction books area and reading room have been changed into all-reference-books section and computer room respectively. Conversely, the entrance remains unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the central public library over the two time periods and making relevant comparisons. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting key changes such as the introduction of self-service machines and storytelling events, alongside structural transformations while noting that the entrance remained unchanged. The spatial descriptions of both maps are generally accurate, successfully detailing the shifts in room functions such as the transformation of the children's books area into a lecture room and the addition of the computer room. The response presents a clear and well-supported overview of the changes without missing major structural shifts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is appropriately divided into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by the past layout, and concluding with current changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the past', 'Furthermore', and 'At present' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparison. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional minor cohesion issues, such as slight awkwardness in prepositional phrasing like 'at the left-hand and the right-hand sides', slightly disrupt the natural flow. Nevertheless, paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall structure is coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, suitable for an academic task. Phrases like 'considerable development', 'retained unchanged', and 'relocated to the central hall' display an awareness of appropriate collocation and style. Less common items such as 'storytelling events' and 'self-service machines' are integrated effectively. There are minor vocabulary and prepositional inaccuracies, such as 'former children's books area' missing an article and occasional minor unnatural collocations, but these do not impede communication. Overall, the lexical range is adequate for a solid Band 6.5 or 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and subordinate structures effectively (e.g., 'from where visitors could use the facility', 'with a lecture room being added'). There is a good variety of tense usage to accurately contrast the past layout with the present state. However, a few grammatical errors and awkward phrasing persist, such as 'has experienced a considerable development' used twice, and minor missing articles like 'in the place of former non-fiction books'. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the majority of sentences are grammatically sound and comprehension is never impeded.

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