Central Library Floor Plan Changes Over 20 Years

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.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 3 Writing Task 1 visual
Read an accessible description

Two floor plans of a central library, with the entrance centred on the south side. Twenty years ago, the west side held CDs, videos and computer games, adult fiction, and a reading room; the east side held children's books, adult non-fiction and an enquiry desk; tables and chairs occupied the centre. Today, the west side contains a children's fiction and storytelling area with sofas, reference books and a computer room; the east side contains a lecture room, adult fiction with an information desk and self-service machines, and a café. The central tables have been removed.

One question. Different responses.

Read. Compare. Learn.

Read the original writing alongside its overall assessment. Open a full review for criterion explanations and sentence-level feedback.

Estimated band7.0
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Response 01

221 words

The maps depict the transformation taking place in the floor plan of a public library over the past two decades.

Estimated band7.0
6.0
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Response 02

187 words

The central library’s evolution over two decades is vividly depicted in the two illustrations, showcasing substantial alterations in its layout and functionality.

Estimated band7.0
7.0
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Response 03

266 words

The maps show the layout of a central library two decades ago and that of today. 20 years ago, the majority of the sections of the library were devoted to reading. Upon entrance, a couple of round tables with chairs around them appeared in the center, while the right-hand side of the entrance was devoted to an enquiry desk and its opposite side to reading newspapers and magazines. On either side of the tables, there were fiction and non-fiction books for adults, a.nd the top right and left corners were used for children’s books and multimedia purposes (CDs, videos and computer games), respectively. By today, this building has been completely altered. The enquiry desk has been replaced by a room for a brand-new café, and the room to the left of the entrance has been converted into a computer room. It is also worth noting that the tables in the middle have been removed, making the foyer more spacious. Additionally, the room for children’s books has been made into a lecture room, and the space between it and the new café now houses an information desk flanked by three self-service machines and adult fiction books. Of a particular note is the expansion of the former multimedia room to host storytelling events and feature children’s books, with all reference books being placed just below this room. Overall, the public library has experienced a complete makeover with the expansion of some rooms. It is also clear that all the rooms have now been repurposed to include new amenities and space for events, with an increased focus on technology.

Estimated band7.5
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7.5
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Response 04

168 words

The diagram provided illustrates the floor plan transformation of the Central Library over two decades.

Estimated band7.5
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.5

Response 05

184 words

The comparison of the floor plans of the public library from two decades ago to its current layout reveals notable transformations. Significant enhancements have been made, particularly in the areas of the library cafe, computer room, and self-service amenities.

TA Task AchievementCC Coherence & CohesionLR Lexical ResourceGRA Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Your turn

Write your response.

Try the same question yourself, then compare your approach with the responses above.

Task 1 Academic question loaded.
Part 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 3 Writing Task 1 visual
Words: 020:00 starts on first word