Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The plan illustrates the changes made to a college cafe following its redesign.
Overall, the cafe has been considerably modernised, with several new facilities being added, including a takeaway food area, a coffee bar, a salad bar and outdoor seating. At the same time, the original staff dining rooms and indoor serving area have been removed, while the kitchen and toilets have remained roughly in the same locations.
Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the upper-left corner of the cafe with a serving area for food and drinks right below it.
The main part of the cafe consisted of tables and chairs. Two staff dining rooms were located along the upper side of this area, while the toilets were situated in the bottom-right corner. A bin was placed near the entrance on the right-hand side.
In the redesigned cafe, the kitchen has been retained, but its former serving area has been replaced by a hot-meals section. Two new facilities, namely a takeaway food area and a coffee bar, have been constructed in the upper-middle part of the cafe. In addition, a salad bar has been installed on the left side, and recycling bins are now located on the right. The tables and chairs remain in the central area, although outdoor seating has also been added along the bottom, with a barbecue corner on the left.
Overall, the redesign has made the cafe more diverse and convenient by providing a wide range of food and dining options.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the major changes, such as the modernization of the cafe and the addition of new facilities. The body paragraphs are well-structured, contrasting the 'before' and 'after' states accurately. You successfully identified key features like the removal of staff dining rooms and the addition of outdoor seating and a barbecue corner. The information is logically selected and reported, providing a comprehensive summary of the visual data without unnecessary detail. The response is well-balanced and meets all the criteria for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'At the same time', 'In addition', and 'although'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the 'before' state, the 'after' state, and the conclusion. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth, making the information easy to follow. There is a logical transition from the general overview to specific details, which demonstrates a high level of control over the structure of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and plans. Phrases such as 'considerably modernised', 'retained', 'constructed', and 'installed' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the description. While the range is sufficient and effective, there is room to incorporate even more sophisticated or varied synonyms to reach the highest band, but the current usage is natural and error-free in terms of collocation and word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as the use of passive voice ('has been retained', 'have been constructed') which is appropriate for this type of task. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the requirements of describing changes over time. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.
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