Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-07

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 given maps illustrate the college cafe changes in the past and now redevelop with new facilities.

Overall, the area underwent significant development, with several new facilities being constructed while some existing features ware remove or replaced.

First of all it is quite evident that the kitchen it is almost similar while serving area convert into hot meals. However staff dining rooms now replaced with take away food and coffee bar. In addition left side new service added it is salad bar and right side bin expand with large recycling. The most noticeable that is now college cafe arrange seating area in outside and also develop barbecue in the left side. Furthermore college cafe add new facilities for college student and staff. overall, i write key and noticeable details rather then all information. nowadays have more seating area compare to the past and also toilets it will be same over the time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, including the kitchen, seating, and new facilities. However, the description is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, professional overview of the spatial changes. While the main features are identified, the analysis is hampered by grammatical inaccuracies that make it difficult to follow the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states. The inclusion of a meta-commentary ('i write key and noticeable details rather then all information') is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 response and detracts from the formal tone required for this task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and a lack of cohesive devices. Transitions such as 'First of all' and 'Furthermore' are used, but the internal structure of the sentences is often disjointed, making it hard to track the progression of the description. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when describing the location of new facilities (e.g., 'left side new service added'). The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related information, leading to a somewhat fragmented reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic descriptors. There are several instances of incorrect word choice and collocation, such as 'ware remove' (were removed), 'convert into hot meals' (converted into a hot meal station), and 'bin expand' (bins were expanded). The range of vocabulary is just sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. The use of informal language and the meta-commentary at the end further limits the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are consistent issues with verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure (e.g., 'the kitchen it is almost similar', 'staff dining rooms now replaced', 'toilets it will be same'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in basic syntax. Punctuation is also inconsistent, and the lack of articles and correct prepositions makes the text feel unpolished. These errors are frequent and often cause the reader to pause to decipher the intended meaning.

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

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