Prompt
Opinion – Public libraries
Some people think public libraries are no longer necessary because of digital resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 9 sample answer
Band 9 sample answer
Sentence-by-sentence analysis
Anatomy of a Band 9 Essay
Read the model answer normally, or switch on the examiner breakdown to see how each sentence contributes to the response.
Analysed against the four IELTS Writing assessment criteria. Each note explains how this specific sentence supports the essay.
Paragraph 1: Introduction — acknowledges digital change but clearly rejects the claim that libraries are unnecessary
Although search engines, e-books and online journals have made information easier to obtain, I largely disagree that public libraries are no longer necessary. Digital resources reduce our reliance on printed shelves, but they do not replace libraries’ role in equal access, guided learning and community space.
The concession recognises the strongest basis for the opposing position, but the writer’s own stance is immediate and unmistakable: digital access has not removed the need for public libraries.
This sentence defines the exact limits of the writer’s disagreement and previews the three functions that will justify retaining libraries: access, guidance and physical community provision.
Paragraph 2: Body 1 — explains why digital access does not guarantee equal access to information
The first issue is that “digital” does not automatically mean “available to everyone”. Many households still lack stable broadband, up-to-date devices or paid subscriptions to academic databases. Even when the internet is technically accessible, some users—older people, new migrants or job seekers—may not have the skills to navigate e-government portals, create CVs or evaluate sources. Libraries help close this gap by providing free computers, Wi‑Fi, printing and staff support, meaning essential services are not limited to those who can afford them.
The topic sentence challenges the hidden assumption behind the opposing view: putting resources online does not ensure that every person can actually use them.
Three concrete access barriers develop the claim: connectivity, hardware and subscription costs can all prevent theoretically available digital material from being practically accessible.
The concessive opening extends the argument from physical access to digital literacy, while the embedded examples identify specific groups and tasks for which library assistance remains valuable.
The sentence completes the paragraph’s reasoning by showing exactly how libraries respond to the access barriers already identified rather than merely asserting that libraries support disadvantaged people.
Paragraph 3: Body 2 — develops libraries’ physical and community functions
Secondly, modern libraries function as multipurpose civic centres. They offer quiet study areas, children’s reading sessions, homework clubs, language exchanges and training in digital literacy. These benefits are inherently physical: students in crowded homes need a calm place to concentrate, and parents often rely on safe public venues for educational activities. An app can deliver a text, but it cannot provide supervised space, a sense of inclusion or face-to-face help.
The explicit sequencing advances the argument from digital equality to a distinct function that online resources cannot easily reproduce: shared physical civic space.
The concrete range of services gives “multipurpose civic centres” precise meaning and demonstrates that contemporary libraries perform substantially more functions than lending printed books.
The sentence directly answers the digital-replacement argument by identifying benefits whose value depends on physical space, particularly study conditions and safe educational venues.
The compact contrast distils the paragraph’s argument: digital tools can reproduce access to content, but not the social and physical environment libraries provide.
Paragraph 4: Body 3 — explains the continuing value of professional guidance
Finally, librarianship remains valuable in an era of misinformation. Professional staff curate collections, recommend credible materials and teach people how to verify claims and reference properly—skills that random online searching rarely develops.
The final body paragraph adds a third distinct reason for retaining libraries: credible human guidance becomes more, not less, relevant when online information is abundant and uneven in quality.
Precise verbs such as “curate”, “verify” and “reference” show the specialist informational role of librarians, while the final contrast distinguishes guided research from unguided searching.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion — confirms that digital resources complement rather than replace public libraries
Overall, while digital resources are extremely useful, public libraries are still essential and should be strengthened rather than abandoned.
The conclusion maintains the essay’s qualified stance: digital resources are explicitly valued, but the developed arguments on access, physical space and professional guidance justify retaining and strengthening libraries.
Verified word count: 254
Analysis by IELTS Master editorial review. How this analysis is created and reviewed
Useful vocabulary and phrases
close the gap
Concise, natural collocation for discussing equity.
Libraries help close the gap for people without devices at home.
e-government portals
Adds specificity and realism to the argument about digital skills.
Some users struggle to navigate e-government portals without guidance.
multipurpose civic centres
Shows a broader understanding beyond books.
Libraries increasingly act as multipurpose civic centres.
quiet study areas
Concrete, easy-to-visualise support.
Quiet study areas are crucial for students in crowded housing.
curate collections
Directly answers why libraries add value in the digital age.
Librarians curate collections to prioritise reliable sources.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing only about borrowing books and ignoring libraries’ current services (internet access, classes, study space).
- Assuming everyone has affordable broadband and subscriptions; this weakens credibility.
- Listing benefits without explaining how they counter the ‘digital resources replace libraries’ claim.
- Using informal wording (e.g., “stuff online”, “people just Google it”) in an academic essay.
- Failing to state the extent of agreement/disagreement clearly in the introduction and conclusion.
Now apply what you have learned
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