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 diagrams illustrate the old site of a college cafe and after its renovation.
Overall, there were significant changes after the college was restructured.
The college cafe before, the staff dining rooms were the entrance of the building. To the left is the kitchen and serving area. Inside the hall, you find tables and chairs. Down east is where you can find the convenience room, just go up small you find a waste bin, where people can throw in trash.
The cafe today has significantly changed with new structures inside.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. Because the response is only 90 words, the description of the cafe's changes is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task. While you identified some features, such as the kitchen and seating, you did not provide a comprehensive overview or make sufficient comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states. To improve, you must ensure you cover all key features shown in the diagrams and provide a more detailed analysis to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is very limited, making the text feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive report. For example, phrases like 'Down east' are used incorrectly to describe location, and there is a lack of linking words to connect the 'before' and 'after' states effectively. To improve, use transition signals such as 'in contrast,' 'subsequently,' or 'whereas' to help the reader follow the changes more logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple descriptors like 'significant changes' and 'new structures.' There is also some confusion in word choice, such as 'convenience room' (which is not standard terminology for a restroom or toilet) and 'go up small.' To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to spatial descriptions and architectural changes, such as 'relocated,' 'expanded,' 'partitioned,' or 'transformed.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar is generally simple, and there are several errors that affect clarity. For instance, 'The college cafe before, the staff dining rooms were the entrance' is grammatically incomplete. You also struggle with prepositions and sentence structure, such as 'just go up small you find a waste bin.' To improve, focus on constructing complete, grammatically sound sentences and practice using complex structures like relative clauses or passive voice, which are essential for describing processes and changes in Task 1.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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