Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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 7.0)

The illustration shows two different maps of a college cafe before and after the reconstruction.

There are several changes that can be seen in the kitchen and indoor dining area as the result of the redesign and the newly added features in the cafe are mostly located on the outdoor space of the cafe.

Prior to the redesign, the cafe kitchen was connected to a serving area which provided all kinds of food and beverages and now they seem to be only serving freshly-cooked meals. There used to be two designated spaces right next to each other for college staff to eat in, however, now they have been transformed into a take away food section and a coffee bar. The bin area, located in the middle of the main door and the toilets, has a new recycling feature after the redesign.

The newly added features include a salad bar right across the cafe kitchen and an outdoor seating area along with a barbecue section.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response provides a clear overview of the changes, identifying key modifications in the kitchen, dining area, and outdoor space. You successfully highlighted the main features, such as the new salad bar and the transformation of the staff dining area. However, the report could be improved by providing more precise spatial descriptions. For instance, mentioning the relative positions of the new features more clearly would enhance the comparison. Additionally, some interpretations, such as the claim that the kitchen now only serves 'freshly-cooked meals,' are not explicitly supported by the visual data provided in the plans. A more objective description of the physical layout changes would lead to a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary of new features. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the internal changes from the external additions. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'Prior to the redesign' and 'The newly added features,' which help guide the reader through the information. However, the flow between some sentences is slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, you could use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'they' in the second paragraph) is always unambiguous to improve the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'reconstruction,' 'designated spaces,' and 'transformed' appropriately. The language is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on fairly common descriptors. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated,' 'expanded,' 'partitioned,' or 'converted.' While there are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, increasing the variety and precision of your lexical choices would elevate the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'There are several changes that can be seen...' and 'Prior to the redesign, the cafe kitchen was connected to...'. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are no major errors that cause confusion. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or participle clauses, to describe the changes more fluidly. For example, instead of 'The bin area... has a new recycling feature,' you could write, 'The bin area, having been updated, now includes a recycling facility.'

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

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