Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The two floor plans illustrate the changes made to the layout of a café, comparing its original design with its current arrangement.

Overall, the café has undergone significant changes, with several new facilities being introduced and the internal layout being reorganised. The most notable developments are the addition of a coffee bar, a barbecue counter, a takeaway counter and outdoor seating. In contrast, the toilet has remained in the same location.

In the original layout, the café consisted mainly of an indoor dining area with tables and chairs, a staff dining room and a food service area. In the current design, the staff dining room has been removed and replaced by a takeaway counter and a coffee bar. In addition, a barbecue counter has been introduced, providing an additional food service facility. The central dining area has been retained, although its size has been slightly reduced to accommodate the new facilities.

Another significant change is the addition of an outdoor seating area, which is positioned near the newly installed barbecue counter. Furthermore, the traditional bin has been replaced with a recycling bin. Despite these modifications, the toilet has remained unchanged and occupies the same position in both floor plans.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the significant changes and successfully highlighted the key features, such as the addition of the coffee bar, barbecue counter, and outdoor seating. The comparison between the original and current layouts is well-structured, and you have correctly identified the static element (the toilet). The information is accurate and well-selected, providing a comprehensive summary of the visual data. The response is well-developed and meets all the requirements for a high band score by focusing on the most relevant changes rather than listing every minor detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information thematically. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. You have used a good range of cohesive devices, such as 'In contrast', 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'Despite these modifications', which help to connect sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is logical, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have demonstrated a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes with precision. Phrases such as 'undergone significant changes', 'reorganised', 'retained', and 'accommodate the new facilities' are used appropriately and naturally. The vocabulary is well-suited to the task of describing a floor plan. While the range is solid, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. However, the current usage is accurate, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('providing an additional food service facility') and contrastive clauses ('although its size has been slightly reduced'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there is a good control over verb tenses, particularly the use of the present perfect to describe the changes that have occurred. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical control, with only rare, minor slips if any.

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

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