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Cambridge 18 Writing Task 1 Test 3 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)
Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
The Prompt
Central Library Floor Plan: Then and Now
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.
Write at least 150 words.
The Data
Central library - key areas: 20 years ago vs today
Entrance area: 20 years ago: open entrance → Today: café added near entrance
Left side (front): 20 years ago: CDs, videos, computer games → Today: computer room
Centre-left: 20 years ago: adult non-fiction books → Today: all reference books; self-service machines
Centre: 20 years ago: reading room (newspapers and magazines) → Today: children's fiction books; sofas
Centre-right: 20 years ago: adult fiction books → Today: adult fiction books (retained)
Right side (front): 20 years ago: children's books → Today: storytelling area; lecture room
Back / service area: 20 years ago: enquiry desk (tickets, book returns) → Today: enquiry desk (retained)
Seating: 20 years ago: tables and chairs in reading room → Today: sofas throughout; storytelling seating
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193 wordsExplicitly identifies the two features left entirely unchanged, showing genuine data selection rather than only listing changes.
The diagrams compare the floor plan of a central public library twenty years ago with its layout today.
Overall, the library has been substantially reorganised to prioritise technology, comfort, and community activities over its previous emphasis on physical media and traditional reading spaces, while the enquiry desk and adult fiction section remain the only two areas left entirely unchanged.
Twenty years ago, the entrance opened directly into the library, the left side housed CDs, videos, and computer games, and the reading room, located centrally, contained newspapers and magazines alongside traditional tables and chairs. Children's books occupied the right side of the building at that time.
Today, a café has been added near the entrance, and the former media section has been converted into a dedicated computer room. The centre-left area, previously adult non-fiction, now holds all reference books alongside self-service machines, while the central reading room has become a children's fiction area furnished with sofas. The right side, once simple children's books, now houses a storytelling area and a lecture room, and sofas have replaced the traditional seating throughout much of the building, aside from the retained enquiry desk and adult fiction section.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Accurately covers all eight areas with a clear overview identifying the library's shift towards technology and comfort, while noting the two features left entirely unchanged.
Coherence & Cohesion: Overview precedes detail organised by former layout then current layout, with cohesive devices ("today", "aside from") linking clearly.
Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("reorganised", "prioritise", "dedicated computer room") used accurately throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including present perfect passive forms used appropriately.
Band 8
175 wordsAccurate and clearly organised, just slightly less varied in its vocabulary than a band 9 answer.
The diagrams show the floor plan of a library twenty years ago and how it looks today.
Overall, the library has changed a lot, with more space now given to technology, comfort, and activities, while the enquiry desk and adult fiction section have stayed the same.
Twenty years ago, the entrance was open, the left side had CDs, videos, and computer games, and the centre had a reading room with newspapers and magazines and traditional tables and chairs. Children's books were on the right side.
Today, a café has been added near the entrance, and the media section has become a computer room. The centre-left area now has reference books and self-service machines instead of adult non-fiction, and the centre is now a children's fiction area with sofas. The right side now has a storytelling area and a lecture room, and sofas have replaced much of the old seating. These changes together reflect a clear move away from a library built mainly for quiet, individual reading towards one built for community activity and shared use.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all eight areas accurately with a clear overview, including the two unchanged features, though described a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by detail grouped by former layout and current layout; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.
Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for describing change, though slightly less varied than the higher-band answer's phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including passive forms.
Band 7
152 wordsThe main areas are correctly reported, but the centre-left and seating changes are not mentioned at all.
The diagrams show a library floor plan from twenty years ago and today.
Overall, the library has changed a lot, with more technology and comfortable seating now, but some areas have stayed the same.
Twenty years ago, the entrance was open, and the left side had CDs and videos. The centre had a reading room with newspapers, and the right side had children's books.
Today, there is a café near the entrance, and the left side is now a computer room. The centre is now for children's fiction with sofas, and the right side has a storytelling area. The enquiry desk and adult fiction section have not changed. These changes show that the library has moved away from being a quiet place mainly for reading books towards a more social space where people can relax, use computers, and take part in activities such as storytelling sessions and lectures for the whole community.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports the main areas accurately with a basic overview, but the overview does not clearly identify both unchanged features the way the higher-band answers do.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by former layout then current layout, though features are listed with fairly plain connecting language throughout.
Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.
Band 6.5
152 wordsThe main areas are all correctly reported, but agreement errors appear in almost every sentence.
The diagram show a library floor plan from twenty years ago and today.
Overall, the library have changed a lot, with more technology and comfortable seating now, but some area have stayed the same.
Twenty years ago, the entrance was open, and the left side have CDs and video. The centre have a reading room with newspaper, and the right side have children book.
Today, there is a café near the entrance, and the left side is now a computer room. The centre is now for children fiction with sofa, and the right side have a storytelling area. The enquiry desk and adult fiction section has not change. This change show that the library have moved away from being a quiet place mainly for reading book towards a more social space where people can relax, use computer, and take part in activity such as storytelling session and lecture for the whole community.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports the main areas accurately, matching the content of the band 7 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by former and current layout, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.
Lexical Resource: Limited by "video" and "book" being used without their plural forms throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement errors ("library have changed", "side have CDs", "section has not change") appear in nearly every sentence.
Band 4-5 - What to Avoid
30 wordsSix of the eight listed areas are missing entirely, and a personal opinion is inserted into what should be a factual report.
This diagram show library before and after.
They add café and computer, this is nice upgrade I think.
Library is more modern now, this is my opinion about this diagram.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Only two of the eight listed areas (entrance and the computer room) are mentioned, six areas including the reading room, seating, and the storytelling area are missing entirely, and a personal opinion is inserted, which has no place in a Task 1 report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.
Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as disconnected remarks rather than an organised comparison of the two floor plans.
Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("nice upgrade", "more modern") used instead of the specific areas named on the diagrams.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("this diagram show", "library is more modern now").
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