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 plans illustrates a college cafe was redesigned with few changes were made till presents

Overall, there are several changes in cafe like kitchen area is quite rearrange and table and chairs is renovate with necessary arrangement. Addition of barbecue area with outdoor seating

Initially, the main area which is table aand chairs and lots of space. So they added extra counters, while replacing the staff dining rooms into take away food and coffee bar counter and additionally at corner there is salad bar stall in main hall and extend the bin into recycling bin that staff can recycle the waste.

On the other hand, they expand the area of cafe with barbecue section with outdoor seating for c

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student attempts to describe the changes, the information is presented in a fragmented manner. Key features, such as the specific locations of the new counters or the exact nature of the layout changes, are under-developed. The summary lacks a clear overview of the most significant transformations, and the incomplete final sentence prevents a full description of the redesign. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed with sufficient detail and that the response reaches the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a logical flow. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the transitions between ideas are mechanical and often unclear. For example, the phrase 'On the other hand' is used inappropriately to introduce the final point, as it does not contrast with the previous paragraph. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes inaccurate, making the progression of information feel disjointed. The response ends abruptly mid-sentence, which further disrupts the coherence of the text. Better use of linking words and a more structured approach to grouping related features would improve the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'changes', 'area', and 'add'. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'is quite rearrange' (should be 'has been rearranged') and 'is renovate' (should be 'has been renovated'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the visual data with precision. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more specific descriptive language related to layout changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'converted', and ensure correct word forms are used.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('The plans illustrates'), incorrect verb tenses ('is renovate'), and missing articles or prepositions. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with typos like 'aand'. The incomplete sentence at the end is a significant error in grammatical control. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, consistent tense usage, and proofreading for minor errors.

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

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