Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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 map depicts the significant transformation of a college cafe between this period of time and earlier.
Broadly speaking, the cafe underwent substantial modification with staff dining rooms being replaced by take away food and coffee bar counter.
To begin wit , serving area got by replaced by hot meals now. Remarkable changes had taken place in staff dining rooms . It is also worth pointing that more recycling bins is added now.
On the final note of comparison, Barbecue is added along with outdoor seating on the southern part of the cafe, attracting more number of visitors. The toilets keep to be in same place and unchanged. Some of the central area of cafe has been used up or salad bar in west side.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the report identifies some main features of the cafe redesign, the description is underdeveloped and lacks sufficient detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The overview is brief, and the comparison between the two plans is somewhat superficial. To improve, you must ensure you reach the word count by providing a more detailed analysis of the spatial changes, such as specific dimensions or more precise locations of the new features, rather than just listing them. The failure to meet the length requirement prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'On the final note', the transitions feel mechanical and sometimes disjointed. The paragraphing is inconsistent, and the flow of information between sentences is often abrupt. To improve, focus on grouping related information together—for example, grouping all structural changes in one paragraph and all additions in another—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'got by replaced' and 'used up or salad bar' are awkward and imprecise. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'this period of time' which is vague. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to maps and diagrams, such as 'relocated,' 'converted,' 'extended,' or 'installed.' Expanding your vocabulary to include more descriptive adjectives and verbs will help you convey the changes more clearly and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'more recycling bins is added' (subject-verb agreement error), 'The toilets keep to be in same place' (incorrect verb usage), and 'To begin wit' (spelling error). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and proofreading for basic spelling errors. Incorporating a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice for describing changes, would also improve your grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.