Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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)

This picture represent information about college cafe both maps before and today. There are certain change.

First of all, there is difference in place of todays hot meals that took place of serving area . Staff dining rooms converted into coffee bar and take away food area . Bin is on the same place butt area looks like bigger than today cafe . Before redesign map consists of toilet place at the corner and it remains same .

Moreover, todays cafe map have outdoor sitting which includes five tables two small and three large. There is also salad bar in todays cafe which is in front of recycling bins area . Barbecue place is on the outside of cafe with small area . Large area of tables and chairs in both maps is in the middle . kitchen is same on both of it . Place of enter and exit are also lies same .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, such as the new outdoor seating, the salad bar, and the conversion of the staff dining room. However, the report lacks a clear overview, which is essential for Task 1. The description is somewhat disjointed, and some comparisons are unclear, such as the reference to the 'bin' and the 'kitchen' remaining the same, which could be described more precisely. To improve, ensure you provide a summary statement highlighting the most significant changes and use more accurate terminology to describe the spatial layout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'Before redesign map consists of...' and 'both of it'. The progression of ideas is occasionally confusing, particularly when jumping between different areas of the cafe. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter', 'this area') is used to connect sentences more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'place', 'area', and 'map'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'todays hot meals that took place of serving area' and 'Bin is on the same place'. The spelling of 'butt' instead of 'but' and the misuse of 'map' to refer to the floor plan indicate a need for more precise terminology. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive vocabulary related to spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'adjacent'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in front of recycling bins area'), incorrect verb tenses ('Place of enter and exit are also lies same'), and subject-verb agreement issues. Punctuation is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar limits the score. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and attempting more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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