User-written IELTS example
Writing Academic Task 1 Band 5.0 Example
Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.
Illustrative target band for this original model answer.
Plan your answer
Try your own response before reading the samples.
Ideas to explore
- Highlight the main transformation: a central seating and table area in the earlier plan gives way to a layout with more specialised facilities.
- Compare how the east side changes from children's and adult non-fiction books plus an enquiry desk to a lecture room, an information desk, self-service machines and a café.
- Track the west side from media, adult fiction and a reading room to storytelling, children's fiction, reference books and a computer room; note that the entrance stays centrally located.
Suggested structure
- Introduce the two plans and give an overview of the most significant changes and any feature that remains.
- Describe the earlier layout, grouping rooms by side or by upper, middle and lower sections.
- Describe the current layout using the same spatial framework so the reader can compare positions.
- Finish with a concise summary of how the library's range of facilities has changed.
Useful vocabulary & examples
- occupy the upper-left corner
- be located in the top-left part of a floor plan
The media room occupied the upper-left corner of the library.
- be replaced by
- be removed and have something else put in its place
The central seating area was replaced by several new facilities.
- remain in the same position
- stay in the location shown in the earlier plan
The entrance remains in the same position at the centre of the lower wall.
- be located opposite
- be positioned across from another place or feature
The enquiry desk was located opposite the reading room.
Task Prompt

User Essay Analysis
Review the public answer with report-style highlights.
The diagrams show Central Library before and after changes were made to its layout. Clearly, the library has been updated to include dedicated spaces for events and now has an open space in the centre. Twenty years ago, to the left of the entrance there was a reading room with newspapers and magazines and to the right of the entrance was an enquiry desk, where visitors could get tickets and return books. Above the reading room were adult fiction books, while the upper-left area held CDs, videos and computer games. On the opposite side, children's books occupied the upper-right section, with adult non-fiction below. Tables and chairs stood in the centre.
Today, the former reading room and enquiry desk have been removed. The left side now contains a computer room at the bottom, all reference books above it, and children's fiction books nearer the top. Storytelling events, with two sofas, are in the upper-left corner. On the right, the café is at the bottom, self-service machines and an information desk are above it, and adult fiction books and a lecture room occupy the upper part. Overall, the library now offers more varied facilities and its central tables have been removed, leaving the centre open.
Targeted Improvement Tips
Related examples for this topic
Compare different bands on the same IELTS prompt.
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