Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10
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 8.0)
The two floor plans illustrate the structural and functional changes made to a college café following a major redesign.
Overall, the café has undergone significant modernization to increase dining capacity and offer a more specialized variety of food service stations, most notably through the addition of outdoor facilities.
In the original layout, a single serving counter attached to the kitchen handled all food and drink items. In the redesigned café, this main counter now serves hot meals exclusively. The previous staff dining rooms in the center have been replaced by two separate stations: one for takeaway food and another for a coffee bar. Furthermore, a new salad bar has been installed along the left wall. While the toilets at the bottom-right corner remain in the same location, the adjacent single bin has been replaced with recycling bins.
Regarding seating, the central area continues to accommodate indoor tables and chairs. However, an entirely new outdoor seating area has been established along the southern exterior wall, complemented by a barbecue station positioned on the far left.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the significant changes, such as the modernization and the addition of outdoor facilities. The main features are well-selected, including the transition from a single serving counter to specialized stations and the introduction of the outdoor seating area. Comparisons are made clearly throughout the text, such as noting that the toilets remain in the same location while the bin has been upgraded. The information is accurate and well-supported by the provided visual data, demonstrating a strong ability to summarize and report key trends and structural modifications.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In the original layout', 'In the redesigned café', 'Furthermore', and 'Regarding seating'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed body paragraphs. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison between the two plans. The structure is coherent and professional, meeting the criteria for a high band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'structural and functional changes', 'significant modernization', 'specialized variety of food service stations', and 'complemented by a barbecue station' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choice is consistently appropriate for an academic report, and there are no noticeable errors in collocation or spelling. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also contributes to the clarity and professional tone of the summary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response exhibits a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully employed a mix of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('While the toilets... remain in the same location, the adjacent single bin has been replaced...') and participial phrases ('complemented by a barbecue station...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The grammatical range is varied, and the accuracy is consistent, which allows for clear and fluent communication of the information presented in the diagrams.
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