Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02
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 picture show the design of college cafe before redesigned and how it looks now.
The cafe before redesign kitchen is on the north side of the picture and the serving area of all food and drink is other side of the kitchen and the and door who join the kitchen is left side of the kitchen and the two staff dining room is situated in the centre of the main hall and main hall is for tables and chairs and the east side of the picture the entrance and exit gate here and the bin is on the right side of the main gate and the toilet is in the right corner near the bin.
On the other hand, cafe today is completely changed and the kitchen is on the same place but on the place of serving area hot meals is now here and the staff dining room changed in to coffee bar and other is for take away food and on the the front of the door who join the kitchen and hall salad bar is situated on the front of the door. Recycling bins is on the same place and the toilet is on the same place the two another doors build on door is side of the toilet and one door is in the corner where barbecue stall is build and outdoor seating on the front of the barbecue stall.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the kitchen, seating areas, and facilities. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant changes. While the task is addressed, the lack of a clear introduction and a concluding summary of the overall transformation limits the score. The information is presented as a list of locations rather than a cohesive report comparing the two layouts. To improve, you should group information logically and provide a clear summary of the major changes in an introductory paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into three paragraphs, which is a good start. However, the internal structure of the paragraphs is repetitive and lacks variety in cohesive devices. You rely heavily on 'and' to connect ideas, which makes the flow feel mechanical. There is a lack of logical progression; for example, jumping between different areas of the cafe without clear spatial markers makes it difficult for the reader to follow the layout. Using a wider range of linking words such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'subsequently' would significantly improve the flow and clarity of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple verbs like 'is' or 'changed' and struggle with precise terminology for describing spatial arrangements. Phrases like 'door who join the kitchen' are awkward and indicate a limited range of vocabulary for describing architectural features. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise descriptive language, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', 'transformed into', or 'relocated'. Additionally, ensure you use correct terminology for the features shown in the diagram, such as 'serving counter' instead of 'serving area of all food'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with articles ('the kitchen', 'the cafe'), subject-verb agreement ('The picture show', 'Recycling bins is'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, making them difficult to parse. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, as most sentences are simple or compound with 'and'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct use of articles and pluralization, before attempting more complex structures. Proofreading for basic errors like 'two another doors' would also be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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