Public library services improvement survey (CLB 9)
Task prompt
Your city's public library system is planning a major service renewal. They are inviting community members to complete a detailed survey about current service gaps, digital access needs, and programming priorities. Write in full paragraphs where requested.
Your task
Complete a library service renewal survey. You must:
- Identify current service gaps with specific examples
- Address digital access and technology needs
- Recommend programming priorities with reasoning
- Write developed, paragraph-length responses
Word count target: 180–220 words
Model answer (CLB 9)
Public Library Service Renewal Survey — Westbrook Public Library
What service gaps have you noticed in the current library system? The most significant gap I have experienced is the limited availability of materials in languages other than English. As a community with a growing newcomer population, the library’s current multilingual collection does not adequately reflect the linguistic diversity of its users. French materials are reasonably stocked, but Mandarin, Tagalog, Arabic, and Punjabi collections are minimal at best.
What digital access improvements would you prioritize? The current digital lending platform is functional but difficult to navigate for users who are less tech-literate, including many older adults and new immigrants. A simplified interface, combined with in-person digital literacy workshops available in multiple languages, would significantly lower the barrier to entry for these groups.
What new or expanded programs would you recommend? I would recommend two programming priorities. First, a weekly English language conversation circle, facilitated by trained volunteers, would support newcomers in building practical communication skills in a low-pressure environment. Second, a homework help program staffed by community volunteers on weekday afternoons would benefit school-age children whose parents may not speak English fluently enough to assist with coursework.
Why this scores CLB 9
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Three distinct priorities developed with specifics and community framing |
| Detail | Specific languages, specific user groups, specific program formats |
| Organization | Each section answers the exact question posed; ideas build logically |
| Tone | Civic, community-oriented, evidence-sensitive |
| Vocabulary | ”linguistic diversity,” “tech-literate,” “low-pressure environment,” “facilitate” |
| Grammar | Consistent formality, complex sentences, no errors |
Common mistakes at CLB 7–8
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| ”Add more books and better computers.” | No specifics, no reasoning, no community perspective |
| Only personal preferences | At CLB 9, responses must reference community benefit, not just self |
| Vague program suggestions | ”More programs for kids” → CLB 7. “Homework help for children of non-English-speaking parents” → CLB 9 |
| Short answers to paragraph-length questions | The prompt says “write in full paragraphs” — failing to do so is a task error |
Examiner tip
At CLB 9, survey responses read like policy memos. Each recommendation names a problem, identifies who it affects, and proposes a practical solution. Practice turning a personal observation (“the library doesn’t have books in my language”) into a community-level finding (“the multilingual collection does not reflect the linguistic diversity of the community”). That reframing is what separates CLB 7 from CLB 9 thinking.