Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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 7.5)

The plans illustrate the layout of a college cafe before and after its refurbishment.

Overall, the college cafe underwent many significant changes, including new facilities such as a salad bar and a barbecue. In addition, outdoor seating was added, and the staff dining rooms were converted into a takeaway food counter and a coffee bar.

An analysis of the image reveals that the kitchen area was unchanged, whereas the serving area, which serves all types of food and drinks, was converted to serve hot meals. Moreover, the staff dining room area was replaced by two separate counters: one for takeaway food and another for a coffee bar. In addition, the area of the bin was expanded to place more recycling bins.

Furthermore, the area for toilets remains unchanged. A salad bar was developed on the southwest side of the cafe. On top of that, outdoor seating was added on the south side of the cafe, with a barbecue just below the salad bar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main changes and supported this with specific details regarding the new facilities, such as the salad bar and barbecue, and the conversion of the staff dining room. The comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states is well-handled, and you have successfully identified the key features of the redesign. The information is accurate and relevant, and the summary is well-structured, ensuring the reader gains a clear understanding of the transformation of the cafe layout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary paragraph, and detailed body paragraphs. You have used a good range of cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'On top of that' to connect your ideas smoothly. The progression of information is logical, moving from the general overview to specific changes in the kitchen and dining areas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the redesign, which helps the reader follow the development of your description without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'refurbishment', 'converted', 'expanded', and 'developed'. The terminology is appropriate for the task and accurately reflects the visual information provided. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated descriptive language to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'The plans illustrate the layout of a college cafe before and after its refurbishment' and 'the serving area, which serves all types of food and drinks, was converted to serve hot meals.' The sentences are generally error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense consistency is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader, and the writing is fluent and easy to follow.

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

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