Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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 map depicts the layout of a college cafe and compares the changes of it after renovation.

Overall, there are many changes that took place within the cafe, but the most significant change happened outside with a seating area and a barbecue stall.

Before the layout of the cafe was redesigned, it had fewer rooms. From the north to the south, the one that sat in the northwest of the cafe contained a kitchen and a serving area that provided all food and drink to visitors. To the south of it, there was a large open area for tables and chairs, with two staff dining rooms that were placed in the north. Additionally, the bathroom was put in the south-eastern corner. A bin was placed between the entrance and the bathroom.

However, these days, with the kitchen area remaining unchanged, the serving area only provides visitors with hot meals. To the south of it, a salad bar has been added. The rooms that used to be used for dining now become one room for takeaway food and the other one for coffee. The bin was replaced by several recycling bins. In addition to these changes, a door next to the washroom was built. Through it, guests can go to the outdoor area, where they can buy barbecue and sit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the addition of the outdoor area and the repurposing of internal rooms. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with specific details from the plans. To reach a higher band, ensure you make more direct comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states rather than describing them as two separate entities. For instance, explicitly contrasting the previous dining area with the new takeaway and coffee rooms would strengthen the analytical aspect of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'In addition to these changes' to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the general overview from the detailed descriptions. To improve, ensure that your referencing is always precise; for example, when you mention 'the one that sat in the northwest', it is slightly ambiguous. Using more specific nouns instead of pronouns would enhance the flow and clarity of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the layout and changes, such as 'redesigned', 'repurposing', and 'remained unchanged'. There is an awareness of style appropriate for a report. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'the most significant change happened outside with a seating area', which could be phrased more naturally. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to spatial descriptions and architectural changes, such as 'partitioned', 'converted', or 'adjacent'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your grammar is generally accurate. Most sentences are easy to follow, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For example, 'The rooms that used to be used for dining now become one room' contains a slight tense inconsistency; it would be better to use 'have become' or 'were converted into'. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing past states versus current states and try to vary your sentence beginnings further.

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

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