Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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 7.0)

The plans compare the layout of a college café before and after it was redesigned. Overall, the café has undergone substantial redevelopment, with significant changes made to its layout and facilities. Various amenities like salad bar, barbecue, takeaway counter, and outdoor seatings have been added, while multiple other things have been altered.

In the café before the redesign, the northwestern part housed the kitchen with a serving area serving all food and drink. The central area with a lot of space consisted of tables and chairs, and along with it, staff dining rooms, with a bin situated in the east and a toilet located towards the south of the café.

The café witnessed an expansion after its redesign. The facility of outdoor seating along with barbecue was introduced and added towards the south below the central area. The central area saw some alterations, with the staff dining rooms being replaced by a takeaway food area and a coffee bar, and the kitchen counter serving area now serving only hot meals. A new salad bar opened up to the west of the area housing table and chairs, whereas the bin to the east was converted into recycling bins.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have provided a clear overview and successfully identified the key changes between the two plans. You covered all major additions, such as the outdoor seating, barbecue, and salad bar, as well as the modifications to the kitchen and dining areas. The information is well-selected and logically grouped. To reach a higher band, ensure you consistently use precise spatial language; for example, describing the 'northwestern' part is good, but ensure all directional references are perfectly accurate based on the visual data. Overall, you have addressed all parts of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by body paragraphs that contrast the 'before' and 'after' states. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'while', and 'after its redesign' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the overview from the detailed descriptions. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are varied; currently, some sentences rely on similar structures. However, the progression of information is clear throughout, and the use of referencing is generally accurate and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and plans, such as 'substantial redevelopment', 'amenities', and 'converted'. You use specific terminology like 'takeaway counter' and 'recycling bins' correctly. There are minor instances where word choice could be more sophisticated, such as 'multiple other things', which is a bit vague. Using more precise academic vocabulary to describe the changes (e.g., 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'expanded') would further enhance your score. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For instance, the use of participial phrases like 'serving all food and drink' and 'with a bin situated in the east' shows good control. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally sound. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'outdoor seatings' (seating is an uncountable noun). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes (e.g., 'The kitchen was relocated to...'), which is highly appropriate for this task type.

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

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