Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The map illustrates the design of the college cafe before redesigning and how it looks at present.
Overall, many changes have constructed compared to before like Salad bar, Coffee bar, Take way counter and new Barbecue station is build in the cafe. Outdoor seating is also available for people who can enjoy in open air.
Before redesigning the structure of the cafe, there was limited options. Serving area where all food and drinks were served is now replaced by hot meals. The staff dining room is constructed into Take way food and Coffee bar. The cafe has now become eco-friendly as they have put recycling bins. Salad bar has build exact opposite to recycle bin
Furthermore, the cafe is expanded more where Barbecue station has build and chairs and tables is put or people who can enjoy in open air.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the cafe redesign, the description is somewhat superficial. You mention the addition of the salad bar and barbecue station, but the report lacks a clear, analytical overview of the spatial transformation. The information is presented in a fragmented way, and the failure to reach the minimum length means the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed comparison of the layout changes and expand on the specific locations of the new facilities to fully satisfy the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'Furthermore' is used, but the connection between sentences within paragraphs is often weak. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Salad bar has build exact opposite to recycle bin', where the lack of articles and clear logical flow makes the progression feel disjointed. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus would help create a more professional and cohesive report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'many changes have constructed' (should be 'have been made') and 'Take way food' (should be 'takeaway'). The repetition of basic verbs like 'build' and 'put' limits the range of your writing. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to describing maps and changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'extended', or 'installed', and ensure you use the correct terminology for the features shown in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. You struggle with passive voice constructions, such as 'has build' instead of 'has been built' and 'chairs and tables is put' instead of 'are put'. There are also consistent issues with article usage ('the' is often missing) and subject-verb agreement. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by these errors. Focusing on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent use of the passive voice for describing changes in plans will significantly improve your accuracy and overall band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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