Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13
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 map displays information about the college cafe before it was restructured and how it looks at the present time.
Overall, before the reconstruction the serving area placed in kitchen but at the present time there is hot meals. Before the remodel of cafe, the staff dinning rooms are in the cafe but after alteration there is no staff dinning at now. The new things introduced in new cafe such as salad bar and barbecue and with this also new sitting arrangement at outside that do not be available in old cafe.
Firstly, there was a serving area in old cafe but at the present time serving area would be eliminated. Secondly, there was a staff dinning room in old cafe but at now staff dinning removed. Thirdly, there was only bin in old cafe that would be modified into recycling bins.
There are numerous thing added in new designed cafe such as coffee bar, take away food, salad bar , barbecue, and also outside sitting arrangements. Where the staff dinning room was placed at now there are coffee bar and take away food. Toilets remained stable at their positions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the removal of the staff dining room and the addition of new facilities like the salad bar and barbecue. However, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview. The description is somewhat repetitive and relies on a list-like approach rather than synthesizing the information effectively. While the key changes are mentioned, the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is occasionally confusing, particularly regarding the serving area. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the most significant transformations rather than just listing individual changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response uses basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly', which creates a mechanical flow. Paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs is weak, often resulting in disjointed sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, for example, 'there is hot meals' and 'there is no staff dinning at now'. The progression of ideas is somewhat repetitive, as the same information is restated in different sections. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with frequent misuse of word forms and collocations. For instance, 'restructured' is used where 'redesigned' or 'renovated' would be more appropriate. Phrases like 'staff dinning' (should be 'dining') and 'sitting arrangement' (should be 'seating area') indicate a lack of precision. There is also a reliance on basic verbs like 'is' and 'are' rather than more descriptive vocabulary suitable for describing spatial changes. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to floor plans and facility descriptions.
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 ('the staff dinning rooms are', 'there is hot meals') and tense usage, as the response shifts inconsistently between past and present. Sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'new things introduced in new cafe such as salad bar... that do not be available in old cafe'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. A focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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