Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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 4.0)

The cafe before redesign schedule shows the area to have little space and which why student/non teaching/teaching staff feels uncomfortable for the plants and tables lot of time for th and place is also congested. The negative part is that there is [unclear] for table and chair for the students and there is separate staff dining room, this make them more [unclear] and relaxed rather then sitting outside of staff dining room; there will be only one toilets which will be corner of the building and also there is bin near the washroom.

The cafe After design there will be two [unclear]. Structure of room placed coffee bar and take away food and straight there is salad bar [unclear] opposite for meal is [unclear] and opposite of tables and chair is [unclear] located and outside there is outdoor seating fan and also barbecue counter. This shows the design for the better [unclear] college cafe.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to provide a clear summary of the main features. Much of the content is speculative (e.g., describing how staff 'feels' or 'relaxed') rather than reporting the visual data. The descriptions of the changes are vague and rely on unclear references, making it difficult to identify the specific layout changes. The response lacks a clear overview, which is essential for Task 1. It focuses on subjective interpretation rather than objective reporting of the spatial changes, such as the removal of the staff room or the expansion of seating areas. Consequently, the response does not adequately address the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The essay is divided into two paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often mechanical or misused, such as 'The negative part is that...' and 'The cafe After design there will be...'. The referencing is frequently unclear, and the lack of precise spatial language makes it difficult to follow the comparison between the two plans. The transition between the 'before' and 'after' states is abrupt, and the overall structure lacks the necessary flow to guide the reader through the visual information provided in the prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. There are several instances where the meaning is obscured by unclear or missing words, marked as [unclear] in the text. The student struggles to use appropriate terminology for describing a floor plan, such as 'structure of room' or 'straight there is'. There is no attempt to use a range of vocabulary related to spatial description or design changes. The lack of precision in word choice significantly hinders the reader's ability to understand the specific details of the cafe's redesign.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. Sentence structures are often fragmented or poorly constructed, such as 'which why student/non teaching/teaching staff feels uncomfortable'. There is a lack of control over basic verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, for example, 'there will be only one toilets'. The use of complex sentences is attempted but results in confusion rather than clarity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, and the overall lack of grammatical accuracy makes the text difficult to read and interpret.

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