Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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 8.5)

The two floor plans illustrate the structural modifications made to a café layout, comparing its original state prior to redesign with its current configuration.

Overall, the establishment has undergone a substantial overhaul aimed at maximizing service efficiency and expanding customer capacity. Most notably, internal staff areas have been systematically eliminated to make way for specialized food stations, complemented by the addition of external seating and cooking facilities.

In the original layout, the central serving area directly fronting the kitchen dispensed all food and beverage items. Occupying the northern wall were two private staff dining rooms, each fitted with circular tables. A solitary waste bin was positioned along the eastern wall near the entrance, adjacent to the restrooms in the bottom-right corner.

In the present configuration, the central counter has been repurposed exclusively for serving hot meals. Having been cleared of the staff dining quarters, the northern sector now accommodates a dedicated coffee bar and a takeaway food stall. Tracing the western wall, a new salad bar has been introduced, while the solitary bin near the entrance has been upgraded into a structured recycling zone. The restrooms in the bottom-right corner remain entirely unaltered.

Externally, a completely new barbecue station has been erected outside the southwestern corner. Furthermore, an expansive outdoor seating area featuring multiple tables now spans the southern perimeter, accessible via a newly installed doorway.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and highlighting the key changes between the two plans. You successfully identified the removal of staff areas, the repurposing of the central counter, and the addition of new facilities like the barbecue station and outdoor seating. The information is well-selected and logically grouped, making the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states very easy to follow. There are no omissions of significant features, and the summary accurately reflects the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to the specific details of the original and then the current layout. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In the original layout', 'In the present configuration', and 'Furthermore', which guide the reader smoothly through the comparison. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the cafe's development, and referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary that is highly appropriate for a formal report. Phrases such as 'structural modifications', 'substantial overhaul', 'systematically eliminated', and 'repurposed exclusively' show a high level of lexical control. The use of collocations is natural and precise, such as 'spans the southern perimeter' and 'dedicated coffee bar'. There are no errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is used with flexibility to describe the changes accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your control of grammar is excellent. You use a wide range of complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('Having been cleared of the staff dining quarters...') and relative clauses, with full accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few structures used are sophisticated and varied. There is a high level of flexibility in your writing, and the overall grammatical accuracy is consistent throughout the entire response.

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