Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-21

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 8.0)

The plans illustrate the layouts of a college cafe before and after it was revamped.

Overall, although the indoor dining area remained mostly unchanged, the rooms where staff could eat were replaced by other facilities. The serving area was divided into two different parts, and an open-air terrace was added.

In the northern part of the cafe, there used to be a single serving area for all types of food and drink. After the redesign, it was split into two facilities: an area for serving hot meals to the south of the kitchen, and a salad bar in the western part of the dining room. In addition, two rooms reserved for staff were replaced by a coffee bar and an area for customers to order takeaway, whereas the original bin was replaced by several recycling bins.

One of the most noticeable changes was the addition of an outdoor terrace for dining, which includes five tables for customers. An area for barbecue was also built outside the cafe's main building.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively covers all key features of the cafe redesign. You have successfully identified the main changes, such as the division of the serving area, the replacement of staff rooms, and the addition of the outdoor terrace and barbecue area. The overview provides a clear summary of the transformation, and the comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states are accurate. The information is well-selected and reported, meeting the requirements of the task fully. No significant features were omitted, and the logical grouping of information makes the report easy to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary overview, and distinct body paragraphs focusing on specific areas of the cafe. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'whereas', and 'One of the most noticeable changes' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the internal changes from the external additions. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can easily track the changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and plans, such as 'revamped', 'facilities', 'reserved', and 'noticeable changes'. The language is precise and fits the context well. There are no spelling errors, and the word choices are natural. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'area' and 'part' to avoid slight repetition, but the current range is sufficient to convey the information with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'although' clauses and passive voice constructions like 'was divided' and 'were replaced'. The grammar is accurate, and punctuation is handled correctly. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses is consistent throughout the description of the past and present states. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication, reflecting a high level of accuracy.

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

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