Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-12

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 maps illustrate the changes that took place in central library between current and 20 years ago.

Overall, the area underwent several significant changes. The main developments were in the center part of the layout.

In the previous plan, the CDs, videos, and computer games area was small in size, but now in the current map this area is completely transformed with new facilities such as Sofa, Storytelling events and Children's fiction books. Now the children's books area opposite to computers games section is replaced by lecture room with no change in size.

A major difference is seen in center section of both the areas. Like in old layout, there were things like adult fiction books, tables and chairs, and adult non-fiction books. But in the present layout, this center section is now transformed into new place with the addition of new facilities like all reference books in the left side and in the right side like Information desk, and self service machines, while adult fiction books area remained unchanged. Reading room and Enquiry desk is converted into computer room and cafe area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the overall transformation and report several relevant changes, including the former reading room becoming a computer room and the enquiry desk area becoming a café. You also note the new storytelling space and lecture room. However, some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate: the adult fiction area did not remain unchanged, as it moved from the middle-left to the middle-right, and the central tables and chairs were removed. The overview that changes were mainly in the centre is also too general to capture the major reorganisation across the plan. Develop the comparison more fully by describing the relocation of book sections and the removal of the central seating, while keeping each feature’s former and current position clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the comparison. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow. For example, the sentence beginning “Like in old layout” combines several former features before shifting abruptly to the present arrangement, and “while adult fiction books area remained unchanged” makes the relationship between the locations unclear. Some linking phrases, such as “A major difference is seen,” are generic rather than helping organise the map details. Grouping changes by location or by what was replaced, and using clear references such as “in the former plan” and “in the current layout,” would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing a floor plan, including “underwent,” “transformed,” “replaced,” and “addition of new facilities.” These choices help communicate the main changes, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive: “center part,” “new place,” and repeated uses of “area” do not describe the layout precisely, while “things like” is informal and vague for an academic report. “Opposite to” is also an awkward choice for describing the children’s section in relation to the former games area. Use more exact terms such as “section,” “room,” “relocated,” and “converted into,” and vary the language used to describe changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including contrast with “but” and “while,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The opening phrase “between current and 20 years ago” uses an unclear time comparison, and “the children's books area opposite to computers games section is replaced” has problems with article use, tense, and sentence construction. In “Reading room and Enquiry desk is converted,” the singular verb does not agree with the two subjects. There are also awkward sentence boundaries in the long final paragraph, where several changes are joined together. Practise accurate past-versus-present forms, subject–verb agreement, and articles, and divide complex comparisons into controlled sentences.

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