Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 project demonstrates a college building before and after which is redesigned and how it looks now.

Overall, it is cleared that there is some changes in today cafe as compared to the cafe before redesigned.

The project before redesigned there is a kitchen in the north east corner and no changes are made but the serving area in converted into a hot meals. Staff dining rooms which is exchanged with take away food and coffee bar. The salad bar is added as well as a barbecue point.

The tables and chairs are in the same location no changes are made before and after. The bins are are displaced with recycling bins. Moreover, toilets are also in same place. While outdoor seating area is constructed infront of the main entrance doors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the overall task achievement. While the student identifies some key features of the cafe redesign, the summary is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt. The description of changes is somewhat disjointed, and the report lacks a clear, analytical overview of the most significant transformations. Because the response is under-length and lacks sufficient detail to provide a comprehensive summary of the visual data, it does not fully address all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical and lacks sophisticated cohesive devices. Phrases like 'The project before redesigned' and 'Moreover, toilets are also in same place' are used to link sentences, but the flow is often interrupted by awkward phrasing. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the description of the kitchen and the seating area feels abrupt. The overall arrangement is coherent enough to be understood, but it lacks the flexibility and logical flow required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms such as 'changes', 'place', and 'added'. There are instances of inaccurate word choice, such as 'displaced' (when 'replaced' was intended) and 'in converted' (a grammatical and lexical error). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety needed to describe spatial changes effectively. To improve, the student should focus on using more specific verbs and nouns related to architectural changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', or 'installed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'it is cleared that there is some changes' (subject-verb agreement), 'The project before redesigned' (missing preposition/awkward structure), and 'bins are are displaced' (repetition/incorrect word choice). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Greater attention to verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is necessary.

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

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