Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31
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 8.5)
The provided plans illustrate the structural layout of a college café prior to and following a major refurbishment project.
Overall, the renovation modernizes the café's facilities by reallocating space within the main hall to introduce dedicated food service stations, altering the kitchen layout, and creating an outdoor seating area equipped with a dedicated barbecue station.
Entering through the main door, the left-hand side remains unchanged post-renovation, featuring a waste bin and toilet facilities. Beyond the entrance, the central hall continues to serve as the primary seating area. However, the original staff dining room situated on the right side of the hall has been partitioned into two distinct functional zones: a coffee bar and an adjacent takeaway section.
In the far section of the building, significant structural changes have taken place. Before the renovation, a single room housed a serving area alongside a kitchen positioned at the rear. Post-refurbishment, this space has been reorganized to include a dedicated hot meals section, while a new salad bar has been installed directly in the main hall opposite the room's entrance. Finally, two new exit doors have been added along the southern perimeter—one near the restrooms and another adjacent to the salad bar—both opening onto an outdoor seating area that features a new barbecue counter.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights the most significant changes, such as the modernization of the layout and the addition of the outdoor area. The body paragraphs are well-structured, logically grouping the changes to the interior and the new structural additions. You have successfully identified and reported the main features, including the transformation of the staff dining room and the reorganization of the serving area. The comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states are precise and easy to follow, demonstrating a high level of analytical skill.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Entering through the main door', 'However', and 'In the far section of the building', which guide the reader through the spatial changes seamlessly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed descriptions of the layout. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is natural, ensuring that the information is presented in a coherent and easy-to-follow manner throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is well-suited to describing architectural and spatial changes. Phrases such as 'reallocating space', 'partitioned into two distinct functional zones', and 'southern perimeter' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choice is precise and contributes to the clarity of your descriptions. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation, and your use of collocations is natural and accurate, reflecting a high level of lexical control appropriate for this task type.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types, which are used with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. For example, your use of participial phrases ('equipped with a dedicated barbecue station') and relative clauses adds depth to your descriptions. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the overall structure of the response is sophisticated and error-free, meeting the criteria for a high band score.
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