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 given image illustrates the cafe before redesign and after design. We have modified the outdoor seating area and also added barbecue to it. Cafe before redesign lackng the outdoor seating. They have also added some area for salad bar and created door for backside entry, also previousoly the are which have used for staff dining rooms is transformed into the take away food and coffee bar. However, the kitchen is having the same area but there is a slightly change in the serving area which have used for its food and drinks now it is used as area for serving hot meals. Moreover, recycling bin has also increased his size which is opposite to the table and chairs. Furthermore, it is noted that there is no changes in the table and chairs of today's cafe. To recapitulate, the cafe today has expanded his outdoor space of outdoor seating and for the barbecue also.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the outdoor seating, the new salad bar, and the conversion of the staff room. However, the overview is weak and lacks a clear summary of the most significant changes. The description is somewhat fragmented, and some details are inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that the kitchen area remains the same when the plans show a clear reconfiguration. To improve, ensure you provide a clear, concise overview in the introduction and group related information logically rather than listing features in a disjointed manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow. While there are some attempts at cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Furthermore', the flow is often mechanical. The lack of paragraphing is a significant issue for coherence, as the transition between the various changes is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, you should structure your response with a clear introduction, a body paragraph for the main changes, and a concluding summary. Using a wider variety of linking words would also help improve the logical progression of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several awkward phrasings, such as 'Cafe before redesign lackng' and 'increased his size'. The use of 'his' to refer to a recycling bin is an error in word choice. You rely on basic descriptors and struggle with collocations related to describing visual data. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs like 'transformed', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and ensure you use appropriate terminology for describing spatial changes in a diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('created door', 'in the table'), incorrect verb tenses ('are which have used'), and subject-verb agreement errors ('kitchen is having', 'cafe today has expanded his'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, correct use of articles, and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past and present states. Proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will also significantly improve your score.

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

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