Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

The two plans illustrate the layout of a college café before its redesign and its current arrangement.

Overall, the café has undergone significant changes, particularly with the introduction of several new food and dining facilities. The kitchen and toilets have remained in roughly the same locations, while the former staff dining rooms have been replaced by a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. In addition, an outdoor seating area and barbecue have been added.

Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the north-western corner of the café and contained a serving area for all food and drinks. Two staff dining rooms were situated beside the kitchen, while the remainder of the café consisted mainly of tables and chairs. A bin was located against the eastern wall, close to the toilets in the south-eastern corner.

Today, the kitchen remains in the same position, although its former serving area has been converted into a hot-meals section. The two staff dining rooms have been removed and replaced by a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar has also been installed along the western wall of the main seating area. The original bin has been replaced by recycling bins near the toilets.

The most notable addition is the outdoor area. Tables and chairs have been placed outside the southern wall, creating an outdoor seating space, while a barbecue has been added at the south-western corner. The main indoor tables and chairs have been retained, although the entrance arrangements have also been modified to provide access to the newly created outdoor area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the cafe redesign, including the structural changes to the kitchen, the removal of staff rooms, and the addition of the outdoor area. The overview clearly captures the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide a logical, detailed comparison between the two plans. You have effectively used spatial language (e.g., 'north-western corner', 'eastern wall') to describe the layout, which makes the information easy to follow. The report is comprehensive and fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Before the redesign', 'Today', and 'The most notable addition'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and specific details of the changes. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing (e.g., 'its former serving area', 'the original bin') is precise, ensuring the reader can easily track the changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary suitable for describing diagrams. Phrases like 'undergone significant changes', 'converted into', 'installed', and 'modified' are used accurately and naturally. You avoid repetition and use specific terminology related to the task, such as 'takeaway-food area' and 'recycling bins'. The vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey the information with clarity and precision, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your control of grammar is excellent. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('have been replaced', 'have been retained') and subordinate clauses ('although its former serving area has been converted', 'while a barbecue has been added'), which are highly appropriate for this type of task. The writing is virtually error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The range of structures is flexible and contributes to the overall clarity and professional tone of the report.

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

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