Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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 given plans represent the changes after the renovation of the cafe in the college.

There is many similar in before and after the cafe like kitchen, bin, toilets, tables and chairs are on same plans which means it the perfect place for that thing. No need to change that things but other things need changes.

Before that we have staff dining rooms that now replaced with take away food and coffee bar which is good, with that it adds facilitates for students and teaching staff as well. And the serving area where serve all the meals in the past but now there only hot meals which helps the people to reach the people at right place where they want to go.

In cafe added many new things. For example, salad bar opposite the recycled bins. The barbecue and outside seating outside the cafe which is easy to cook the food and increases the seating area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the task by identifying some changes, but it fails to provide a clear overview or a structured comparison. The description is fragmented and lacks a logical summary of the main features. For instance, the mention of 'kitchen, bin, toilets' being the same is accurate, but the explanation of the new layout is confusing. The response lacks a formal tone and fails to highlight the most significant transformations, such as the expansion of the seating area or the relocation of the entrance. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall changes in the introduction and group related features logically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there are paragraphs, the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'with that it adds facilitates' and 'in cafe added many new things.' The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the spatial changes between the 'before' and 'after' plans. To improve, use linking words like 'whereas,' 'subsequently,' or 'in contrast' to connect ideas and ensure each paragraph has a clear focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choice and grammatical errors in word formation, such as 'adds facilitates' instead of 'adds facilities' and 'there only hot meals' instead of 'only hot meals are served.' The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the visual information with precision. To achieve a higher band, you should learn specific terminology for describing maps and plans, such as 'relocated,' 'transformed,' 'extended,' and 'adjacent to,' rather than relying on simple verbs like 'added' or 'change.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('There is many similar'), article usage ('in the college'), and sentence structure ('Before that we have staff dining rooms that now replaced'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in complex constructions. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns, ensuring correct verb tenses when comparing past and present states, and proofreading for common errors like missing articles or incorrect pluralization.

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

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