Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

The two plans compare the layout of the college café before and after its redesign.

Overall, the café has been modernized with the introduction of several new food service areas and an outdoor seating section. Meanwhile, the kitchen and toilets have remained in the same locations.

Before the redesign, the café contained a serving area for all food and drinks next to the kitchen, two staff dining rooms, a bin, and a large indoor seating area with tables and chairs. After the renovation, the serving area was replaced by a hot meals counter, while a salad bar was added along the left-hand side of the café. The former staff dining rooms were converted into a takeaway food counter and a coffee bar.

In addition, the single bin was replaced with recycling bins, and a barbecue together with an outdoor seating area was introduced at the front of the café. The kitchen, toilets, and the central indoor seating area remained largely unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all parts of the task. You provided a clear overview of the main changes, such as the modernization of the café and the addition of outdoor seating, while noting what remained unchanged. The report is well-structured, selecting key features like the new food counters and the conversion of the staff rooms. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is accurate and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure you consistently highlight the most significant spatial changes, perhaps by grouping the 'new' features more distinctly from the 'unchanged' ones to provide an even sharper analytical summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the introduction to the overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Meanwhile', 'Before the redesign', 'After the renovation', and 'In addition', which help the reader navigate the information smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general description from the specific details. The flow of information is natural, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. There is nothing that attracts attention as being mechanical or repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and plans, such as 'modernized', 'redesign', 'converted', and 'remained largely unchanged'. The word choices are precise and contribute to a professional tone. You avoid repetition and use specific terminology like 'takeaway food counter' and 'outdoor seating section' accurately. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or synonyms for 'changed' (e.g., 'transformed', 'reconfigured') would further enhance the lexical variety and elevate the response toward the highest band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You effectively employ passive voice constructions (e.g., 'was replaced', 'was added', 'were converted'), which is ideal for describing processes and changes in plans. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate good control over complex sentence structures. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence throughout the response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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