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 plans illustrate the infrastructural layout of a college cafe before it was redeveloped compared with its present-day arrangements.

Before the redesigning, the cafe had a huge indoor dining area with tables and chairs, with restrooms in its south-east corner. Trash cans were placed right outside these restrooms. Staff dining rooms were situated in the central part of the dining area towards the north. The kitchen was enclosed in the north-west part, with a servicing area to deliver food and drinks, at its front.

In present day, the indoor dining area stands the same, however, additional outdoor seating has been constructed, along with a barbecue counter at its far west. The trash cans by the toilets have been replaced by recycling bins and a salad bar has been added to its opposite side. The kitchen still remains enclosed but the servicing area has been repurposed for serving hot meals. Moreover, a new coffee bar and a take away food counter has replaced the staff dining rooms.

Overall, the cafe layout has been changed to a more modern setup to cater the needs of the customers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main features of the cafe before and after the redesign. You have successfully highlighted key changes such as the addition of outdoor seating, the barbecue counter, and the repurposing of the staff dining area. The overview provides a clear summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully explicit; for instance, while you mention the kitchen remains enclosed, you could further emphasize the contrast in the flow of the space. Overall, the information is well-selected and the report is accurate, covering all significant developments shown in the diagrams.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs detailing the 'before' and 'after' states, and a concise concluding summary. The progression of information is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Before the redesigning,' 'In present day,' and 'Moreover' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods. To improve further, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'its opposite side' could be clarified by specifying exactly what it is opposite to, ensuring the reader does not have to search for the referent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing diagrams, such as 'infrastructural layout,' 'redeveloped,' 'repurposed,' and 'barbecue counter.' The language is generally natural and precise. There are a few minor issues with collocation or word choice, such as 'cater the needs' (should be 'cater to the needs') and 'take away food counter' (should be hyphenated as 'take-away' or 'takeaway'). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and with some flexibility, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are a few minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'In present day' (should be 'In the present day') and 'cater the needs' (missing the preposition 'to'). Additionally, 'a take away food counter has replaced' should be 'have replaced' to agree with the compound subject 'coffee bar and a take away food counter.' However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, allowing for a strong score in this criterion.

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

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