Back to Writing Hub

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.

204 words AcademicTask 1Map
Task 1

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

  1. Introduce the two plans and give an overview of the most significant changes and any feature that remains.
  2. Describe the earlier layout, grouping rooms by side or by upper, middle and lower sections.
  3. Describe the current layout using the same spatial framework so the reader can compare positions.
  4. 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

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.
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 5.0

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

1
Write a two-part overview that contrasts the old central seating area with the new open centre and notes the addition of event facilities.
2
Group details by side of the plan, and check each room’s position against the diagram before using terms such as “above” or “nearer the top.”
3
Split long location lists into shorter sentences and use precise verbs such as “occupies,” “contains,” and “is situated.”

Related examples for this topic

Compare different bands on the same IELTS prompt.

Browse all