Task
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.
Examiner’s Answer
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 there was an enquiry desk. Now there’s a computer room on the left and a cafe where the information desk once was. Adult fiction has moved to the right-hand side of the room and all reference books are now on the left. There is a smaller information desk with self-service machines in what once was the adult non-fiction section.
There was a room at the back left-hand corner that had computer games, CDs, and videos that has since been enlarged and houses children’s fiction. It has a space with two sofas where storytelling events are held. There is a lecture room in the back right-hand corner where children’s books used to be.
Examiner’s Comment
This response covers the main changes that have occurred over the 20-year period. An overview is presented in the second paragraph which is quite general: it refers to the [dedicated spaces for events] but this could be improved by giving a summary of the key changes (dedicated spaces for events, self-service facilities, and a cafe).
Ideas are arranged logically: the changes to the front of the library are presented in the third paragraph and the changes to the back section in the final paragraph. This shows a logical approach to reporting the changes and there is some good cohesion [once was | now on the left | has since been].
There is a good range of vocabulary. In this kind of task, vocabulary from the floor plan needs to be used to report the changes, but the use of different words shows some flexibility and precision [been updated | dedicated spaces | houses].
In terms of grammar, there are error-free sentences and some variation in structures used when describing changes [has been updated | what once was | has since been enlarged].
The response could be improved by extending the overview to include more of a summary of the main changes but overall, this response captures the main changes in a logical way.
