Back to Writing Hub

User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 6.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

224 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 6.0

Given the two maps outline the changes that have taken place following the development of a central library compared to its state 20 years ago. Overall, it is clear that the library has undergone a dramatic transformation that can provide a wider range of facilities for the user with greater versatility. In the past, it was divided into several areas for different types of books and reading. CDs, videos and computer games were located in the upper-left corner, while children's books were opposite, in the upper-right. Adult fiction and non-fiction occupied the two central side sections. At the bottom, a reading room for newspapers and magazines was on the left, and an enquiry desk stood on the right. Tables and chairs were arranged in the middle, directly above the entrance. Today, the central space has been reorganised into more specialised facilities. The former children's book area now contains children's fiction books, a storytelling-events area and two sofas, while a lecture room occupies the upper-right corner. Adult fiction books and an information desk are located below it, with self-service machines further down. On the left, all reference books are grouped above a computer room. A café has replaced the former enquiry-desk area. Overall, the layout now offers a broader mix of learning, technology and leisure facilities, and the central tables and chairs have been removed.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Open with a direct paraphrase of the task, such as “The maps compare the library’s floor plan 20 years ago with its present layout.”
2
Group the description by time period, then use clear location markers such as “on the left,” “in the upper-right corner” and “below.”
3
Prioritise the key changes in your overview: the former central seating area is gone, and the library now includes facilities such as a computer room, lecture room and café.

Related examples for this topic

Compare different bands on the same IELTS prompt.

Browse all