Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-05

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 two map diagrams compares the layout of a public library 20 years ago and now.

Overall, the library has been largely redeveloped because of addition of extracurricular activities and technological advancements implemented in it. Except the location of the entrance, every space is replaced with new facilities such as cafe, computer room, self-service machines, storytelling area and lecture room.

Twenty years ago, entrance was at the mid-bottom of the map with enquiry desk for tickets and book returns on the right side and reading room including newspapers and magazines on the left side. The entrance directly opened in a foyer area with two round tables and chairs. Children's books were in the upper-right corner with adult non-fiction section below it. The upper-left section was allocated for CDs, videos, computer games and adult fiction books area was beneath it.

Currently, the entrance is at the same place with cafe on its right side and computer room on the left side. The entrance opens in the foyer and the seating area is removed. Children's book section in the upper-right corner is transformed into a lecture room. Adult non-fiction space is completely removed with adult fiction books, information desks and three self-service machines. The upper-left corner replaces computer games room with children's fiction books, and an area for storytelling with sofas is there. All reference materials can be found in an area between the computer room and the children's fiction book area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and highlighting key changes between the two floor plans of the central library. The student covers most major features, such as the removal of the seating area in the foyer, the addition of the cafe, lecture room, and computer room, and the shifting of book collections. The overview effectively captures the library's broader transformation toward incorporating more technology and extracurricular facilities. However, some details are slightly generalized or lack full extension, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band. For instance, the exact locations and specific configurations of smaller features like the self-service machines and information desk could have been integrated more fluidly into the spatial comparison. Overall, the information is accurately selected and presented with a clear comparative structure throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response maintains a clear overall logical organization, guiding the reader effectively from the past layout to the current one. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a clear introduction and overview followed by well-defined body paragraphs dedicated to the past and present maps respectively. Cohesive devices are employed adequately, such as 'Overall', 'Twenty years ago', and 'Currently', which help signal time shifts and structural progression. However, cohesion occasionally feels slightly mechanical or abrupt in transitions between sentences, and referencing is at times marginally repetitive. To reach the next level, the student could employ a wider and more sophisticated variety of cohesive links and ensure that spatial relationships between different rooms are connected with greater fluidity.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task describing a map transformation, using appropriate terms such as 'redeveloped', 'extracurricular activities', 'foyer area', and 'transformed'. There are successful attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'technological advancements' and 'allocated'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as writing 'The two map diagrams compares' (where 'compares' should be plural) and 'The entrance directly opened in a foyer area' (where 'into' would be more natural than 'in'). Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and these minor lapses do not impede communication, fully aligning with the characteristics of this level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over descriptive clauses and past/present tense contrasts. Examples include 'Twenty years ago, entrance was at the mid-bottom...' and 'Currently, the entrance is at the same place with cafe on its right side...'. However, there are some noticeable grammatical errors, particularly concerning articles and prepositions, such as omitting necessary articles ('with cafe on its right side' should be 'with a cafe') and minor prepositional slips ('opened in a foyer area'). Complex structures are attempted with mixed success, and while punctuation is generally sound, the recurring article and preposition errors mean that error-free sentences are not sustained consistently enough to push into the higher bands.

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

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