Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

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 two plans illustrate the layout of a college café before and after its redesign.

Overall, the café has been significantly modernized and expanded. The main changes include the reorganization of the serving area, the removal of staff dining rooms, the addition of several new food stations, and the creation of an outdoor seating area.

In the past, the café had a simple layout. At the top, there was a kitchen with a single serving area for all food and drink. In the middle, to the right of the main entrance, there were two separate staff dining rooms, each with a round table. The largest part of the café was occupied by tables and chairs. In the bottom right corner, there were toilets and a bin.

In the redesigned café today, the kitchen remains in the same place, but the serving area has been divided. The section closest to the kitchen now serves only hot meals, while the former staff dining rooms have been converted into a take-away food counter and a coffee bar. The central tables and chairs area is still the main space, but new facilities have been added around it. On the left wall, a salad bar has been installed, with a barbecue area just outside at the bottom left. A major addition is the outdoor seating area at the bottom, with five tables, accessible through two new doors. Finally, on the right side, the bin has been replaced by a recycling area, while the toilets remain in their original location.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main changes, such as the modernization and expansion of the café, and successfully highlighted key features like the new food stations and outdoor seating. The comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states are accurate and well-integrated. You have effectively selected the most significant information rather than listing every minor detail, which demonstrates a high level of analytical skill. The structure is logical, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow, meeting all criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from an introduction and overview to detailed descriptions of the past and present layouts. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these distinct timeframes. Cohesive devices such as 'In the past', 'In the redesigned café today', and 'Finally' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage, and the overall arrangement of ideas is highly coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for describing spatial layouts and changes. Phrases such as 'significantly modernized', 'reorganization of the serving area', and 'converted into' show a good command of language. The use of specific terminology like 'take-away food counter', 'salad bar', and 'recycling area' is accurate and adds to the clarity of the report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with a high degree of naturalness and flexibility throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types, which are used with high accuracy. You have maintained consistent control over verb tenses, correctly using the past tense for the original layout and the present tense for the current one. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your descriptions. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and any minor slips are rare and do not impede communication in any way. The grammatical control is sophisticated and consistent.

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