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

Annotated response

18 correction notes

Showing 18 correction notes.

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

Initially, the layout , with and functional areas neatly arranged along the walkways. However, transformative changes. Notably, the left side of the entrance has undergone a significant transformation. What once housed a now boasts a , while the right side, formerly home to an inquiry desk, now exudes the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a vibrant cafe setting.

uncovers a stark shift in the library’s organization. The space, once a , now exclusively hosts reference materials. Conversely, on the opposite side, adult fiction enthusiasts find themselves amidst a dynamic ensemble of literary offerings, complemented by an information desk and . Despite the semblance of continuity in the library’s overall layout, a closer examination reveals a narrative of adaptation and evolution, painting a compelling picture of the institution’s journey through time.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response demonstrates strong language flexibility, using varied structures and a wide vocabulary to describe the library's transformation. Its main limitation is incomplete coverage of the visual, with several key changes such as the children's area, lecture room, storytelling events, and removal of CDs, videos, and central tables left unmentioned, alongside some stylistically inappropriate embellishment.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

6.0

The response accurately reports several key changes, including the reading room becoming a computer room, the enquiry desk becoming a café, and shifts in book holdings, with a general opening statement of overall transformation, but it omits major features such as the children's areas, storytelling events, lecture room, and the removal of the CD/video section and central tables, and includes unsupported embellishment.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

The response progresses logically through the layout with clear linking devices and well-managed paragraphing, and ideas connect smoothly across the comparison of past and present.

Lexical Resource

7.0

The response shows a wide and flexible vocabulary with precise comparative phrases, though certain expressions such as 'exudes the aroma' and 'vividly depicted' are stylistically unsuited to a factual report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

The response uses a varied range of complex structures, including participial and relative clauses and cohesive contrast markers, with generally good control and only minor, non-impeding errors.