Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 maps illustrate the changes that have taken place to a college cafe between before redesigned and the present.

Overall, it is clear that several major modifications have been made to the cafe, including the establishment of outdoor seating areas, salad bar, and transformation of the staff room into take away food and coffee bar. However, the kitchen, the toilets have remained the same.

Looking at the maps in detail, we can see that serving are in the kitchen room has been replaced by hot meals. Similarly, the staff dining room has been transformed into take away food and coffee bar. After that, a salad bar has been constructed in the west side, and in the east, there was a bin, heve been transformed into recycle bins. Finally, a barbecue and several seating areas are installed in outdoor.

by contrust, the toilets, the kitchen have reamainde unchanged th

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the cafe redesign, the description is somewhat fragmented. You successfully highlighted the addition of the outdoor seating and the transformation of the staff room, but the explanation of the changes is occasionally unclear, such as the confusing reference to the bin area. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview and ensure all parts of the prompt are fully developed. The abrupt ending also suggests the task was not completed as intended.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the flow of ideas is hindered by awkward phrasing and some mechanical use of cohesive devices. For example, 'After that' and 'by contrust' are used to link ideas, but the transitions feel somewhat forced. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes described. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical progression that guides the reader through the visual information provided in the maps.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. While you use some relevant terms like 'modifications', 'establishment', and 'transformed', there are several spelling errors such as 'contrust', 'heve', and 'reamainde'. These errors, combined with the limited range, restrict your ability to convey information with precision. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more varied vocabulary to describe changes, such as 'converted', 'relocated', or 'expanded', and pay closer attention to spelling and word formation to ensure your writing remains professional and clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'between before redesigned', 'serving are in the kitchen', and 'installed in outdoor'. These errors in preposition usage, verb tense, and sentence construction are noticeable throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and subject-verb agreement. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles or incorrect verb forms will help you achieve greater accuracy and clarity in your writing.

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

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