Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-24

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 given maps illustrate the comparison of the central library from 20 years ago and today. Nowadays, there is same entrance as there was 20 years ago. There were some tables and chairs, but now that place is empty. After entering the library, the enquiry desk ( tickets, book returns, etc ) repaced by a cafe. After that, the adult non-fiction books were replaced by adult fiction, an information desk and self-service machines. There was a children's books section in the top right corner of the library, but now, this section replaced by a lecture room. In the top left corner, the CDs, videos, and computer games section has been changed into a children's fiction books and storytelling events place with two sofas. In the bottom of this portion, the adult fiction books portion and the reading room has been replaced by all referance books and computer room, respectively. There are a lot of changes in the central library from 20 years ago to nowadays.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main transformation and make several accurate comparisons: the entrance remains in the same place, the central tables and chairs have been removed, and the former children’s-book and media areas have been reassigned. The account also identifies the new lecture room, café, computer room and reference-book area. This gives a clear, relevant summary of the plans. However, some changes are described less fully: for example, the new lecture room and café are mentioned, but the new children’s area’s sofas and storytelling function are not clearly set against the former layout, and the overall reorganisation could be summarised more precisely. The final statement that there are “a lot of changes” is general rather than an overview of the most significant pattern. A sharper overview and fuller comparison of key areas would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly understandable route through the plan, moving from the entrance and central area to the right and left sections. This helps the reader connect most changes to their locations. However, the information is presented as one continuous paragraph, with no distinct overview or grouping of the major changes. Linking phrases such as “After entering,” “After that,” and repeated “but now” create a somewhat mechanical sequence, and “In the bottom of this portion” makes the spatial reference difficult to follow. Organise the response into a brief introduction, an overview, and grouped details—for example, changes on each side of the library. Use clearer location references and vary the transitions so the progression feels more deliberate.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing a library plan, including “replaced,” “section,” “self-service machines,” and “storytelling events.” These choices allow the reader to understand most of the changes, and the response shows an adequate range for the task. Some wording is imprecise or repetitive, however: “that place is empty” is less exact than saying the central seating area was removed, while “portion” is repeated and sounds unnatural for library areas. There are also spelling errors in “repaced” and “referance,” and “a children’s fiction books” is not a natural label. Aim for precise map vocabulary such as “area,” “section,” “relocated,” and “converted into,” and check spelling and noun phrases carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer comparisons, including “There was a children’s books section … but now, this section replaced by a lecture room.” The meaning is generally recoverable, but some errors in verb forms, articles and sentence construction reduce accuracy. In that example, the passive needs “has been replaced,” and “a children’s books section” should be “a children’s book section.” Similarly, “the enquiry desk … repaced by a cafe” needs a complete passive verb phrase, such as “has been replaced by a café.” The opening “there is same entrance” also needs an article. Practise accurate present and past passive forms for describing changes, and vary sentence structures while checking each clause for a subject, verb and appropriate article.

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