Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

The plans illustrates a collage café before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

In an overview, the main change in the café is they introduced outdoor seating facilities and also they build barbecue stall for the collage students. Also there are some changes that are they made a salad bar and staff dining rooms to take away food and coffee bar.

In the first map, the kitchen and the serving area were located on the upper left concur of the map and the staff dining rooms was at the center. While the main area was filled with tables and chairs, and the toilets and the bins were situated on the right side.

in the second map, the serving area was replaced with hot meals counter and a salad bar and barbecue area were introduced on the left side. The staff dining area was

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. Furthermore, the response is incomplete; it ends abruptly in the middle of a sentence ('The staff dining area was'), meaning the description of the second map is unfinished. While you identified some key features such as the salad bar and barbecue area, the failure to complete the report and the lack of a full summary of the changes prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure you complete the description of all areas shown in the diagrams and provide a clear, concise summary of the overall trends before concluding.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the first map' and 'In the second map', but the overall flow is hindered by the abrupt ending. The use of 'In an overview' is slightly non-standard; 'Overall' or 'In summary' would be more appropriate. To improve, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your comparisons between the two plans more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and limited. You used basic terms like 'changes' and 'map' repeatedly. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'collage' instead of 'college' and 'concur' instead of 'corner'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'replaced'. Additionally, ensure you proofread for spelling errors, as these minor slips can detract from the professional tone required for an Academic Task 1 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. For example, 'The plans illustrates' should be 'The plans illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), and 'they build barbecue stall' should be 'a barbecue stall was built' (passive voice is preferred for describing diagrams). There are also issues with article usage and tense consistency. While you attempt some complex structures, the frequent errors and the incomplete sentence at the end make it difficult to assess your full control of grammar. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of the passive voice will help improve your accuracy.

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

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