Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The maps show the changes to Central Library over a 20-year period.
Overall, the library has been completely modernised. The central tables and chairs have been removed, the children's area has been greatly expanded and relocated, and new digital and social facilities including a computer room, cafe, self-service machines, and a lecture room have been added.
Twenty years ago, the entrance was at the bottom. Just inside, in the centre, were two round tables with chairs. To the left of the entrance was a reading room for newspapers and magazines, with adult fiction books directly above it. The top-left corner was occupied by a room for CDs, videos and computer games. On the right side, to the right of the entrance was an enquiry desk for tickets and book returns, with adult non-fiction books above it, and a children's books room in the top-right corner.
Today, the entrance remains in the same location. The two central tables have been removed to create an open walkway. The reading room on the left of the entrance has been converted into a computer room, and the adult fiction books above it are now all reference books. The top-left area has been enlarged to house children's fiction books, with two sofas and a dedicated space for storytelling events, replacing the CDs and games room.
On the right side, the enquiry desk has been replaced by a cafe. Above the cafe are three self-service machines, and above them is the adult fiction books section with a new information desk, which has moved from the left side of the building. Finally, the children's books room in the top-right corner has been converted into a lecture room.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student provides a very clear and accurate summary of the changes to the Central Library over the 20-year period. All parts of the prompt are well covered, including a clear overview in the second paragraph that highlights the key developments, such as modernization, the removal of the central tables, the expansion of the children's area, and the addition of new digital and social facilities. The spatial descriptions in the body paragraphs are well-grounded in the visual data, accurately tracing the positions of the various rooms and features both 20 years ago and today. Ideas are fully developed without any noticeable omissions.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Progression is clear, starting with an introductory overview, moving to the library's layout 20 years ago, and concluding with its current state. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different temporal periods and spatial sectors. Cohesive devices are handled naturally, such as 'Twenty years ago', 'Today', and 'On the right side', guiding the reader smoothly through the architectural changes without any obtrusive or mechanical transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The candidate demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a diagram description task. Appropriate terminology is used throughout, including phrases like 'completely modernised', 'open walkway', 'converted into', and 'dedicated space'. Word choice and collocations are precise, with only occasional minor stylistic limitations. The language flows naturally and describes spatial relationships and transformations effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
A wide variety of grammatical structures is employed successfully. The response features a strong mix of complex sentences containing relative clauses and adverbial phrases of time and place, such as 'To the left of the entrance was a reading room for newspapers and magazines, with adult fiction books directly above it.' The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled with a high degree of control, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted readability.
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