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 images illustrate the college cafe design now and before redesigned. This describe what new things have added in college cafe.

Firstly before and after cafe redesign the kitchen, toilets and table areas are still same butt serving area of all food and drink is totally converted in to Hot meals. Staff dining rooms are change in to take away food and coffee bar.

There are also some new things added in cafe now. The outdoor seating is constructed in outside the cafe it give natural environment to students and teachers. The Salad bar and Barbecue area is also make in left side of the cafe so this is very positive change now.

Overall now the cafe is modern and many new things are added in cafe this make it fully addressed and wonderful. The sufocation is also decrease due to outdoor seatings

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some key features of the cafe redesign, the summary is quite brief and lacks a clear overview of the most significant changes. You have attempted to describe the layout, but the lack of detail regarding the spatial arrangement and the failure to reach the word count limit means the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the main trends and include more specific details from the diagrams to fully develop your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is hindered by the limited development of ideas and some awkward transitions. The use of cohesive devices is quite basic, such as 'Firstly' and 'Overall', and there is a lack of variety in how you link your points. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, unified focus will help improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is somewhat repetitive and limited to basic descriptions. Phrases like 'new things are added' and 'very positive change' are overly simplistic for an Academic Task 1 response. There are also errors in word choice and form, such as 'sufocation' (likely meaning 'congestion' or 'crowding') and 'is also make' (should be 'was also made'). To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to describing changes, such as 'transformed', 'relocated', 'expanded', or 'modernised', and ensure you are using the correct word forms in your sentences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('Staff dining rooms are change', 'is also make'), tense usage, and missing articles. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with few attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar structures interferes with the flow of the text. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly the use of passive voice, which is essential for describing changes in diagrams, and ensure your verb tenses are consistent throughout the report.

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

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