Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09
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 idea below illustrates a college cafe it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Overall, there are the big difference between the both designs old and new.
Overview, the new structure of college cafe is the addition of new facilities like outdoor seating, barbecue and salad bar.
First of all, we discuss the old cafe structure. In old college cafe included kitchen, serving area. Serving food items and drinking products. And a small toilet and staff dining rooms. It's have less opportunities and facilities.
Furthermore, now we discuss the big and crucial design of college cafeteria. This structure gives a lot of facilities and opportunities. Firstly, staff rooms changes into the two separate rooms like take away food and coffee bar. Moreover, this structure gives a great facility and staff members more enjoy this facility as compared to the old design's facilities. This is outdoor seating, it's a good idea. Because staff member enjoy the outdoor view or drinking coffee and other products by enjoying the weather.
At last the barbecue and salad bar are including new design as compared to the old structure. When these facilities includes today's design, staff member enjoy more an
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response attempts to describe the changes to the cafe, but it fails to provide a clear, objective summary of the visual data. Instead of focusing on the spatial changes, the essay relies on subjective commentary, such as claiming staff 'enjoy' the new facilities. The overview is weak, and the description lacks precision regarding the location and scale of the changes. The response also ends abruptly mid-sentence, leaving the task incomplete. To improve, focus on reporting the facts—such as the relocation of the kitchen or the addition of specific zones—rather than speculating on the staff's feelings.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay uses basic cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover', but these are often used mechanically and do not always create logical flow. The paragraphing is present but ineffective, as the ideas within the paragraphs are repetitive and lack clear progression. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'This structure' being used repeatedly without specifying which part of the plan is being discussed. The abrupt ending significantly disrupts the coherence of the final section.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'big difference', 'great facility', and 'good idea' are too simplistic for an Academic Task 1 response. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'drinking products' instead of 'beverages' and 'staff members more enjoy this facility'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band score. More specific terminology related to floor plans, such as 'layout', 'partition', or 'designated area', is needed.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('It's have less opportunities', 'staff member enjoy'), article usage ('the big difference', 'the new structure'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, they are often poorly constructed and contain errors. The control of grammar is weak, and the frequent errors are a persistent feature of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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