Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 8.0)

The plans illustrate the layout of a college café before and after its redesign, with the central seating area remaining unchanged while the food service stations and outdoor facilities have been significantly reorganised.

In the original layout, the kitchen fed into a single serving area offering all food and drink, and customers were served from one central point. Adjacent to this, two staff dining rooms with round tables occupied the upper right section, while a small bar stood near the toilets on the right-hand side. Notably, there was no outdoor space at all.

In contrast, the redesigned café has replaced the single serving area with four specialised stations: hot meals and a salad bar on the left, and a take-away counter and coffee bar in the centre, where the staff dining rooms used to be. The bar has been removed and replaced by recycling bins. Perhaps the most striking addition is the outdoor area at the front of the building, which now features a barbecue and several tables for outdoor seating.

Overall, the redesign has diversified food service options and extended the café outward, whereas the original design concentrated all functions indoors around a single serving point.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the redesign, including the transformation of the serving area, the removal of the bar, and the addition of the outdoor space. The overview in the final paragraph effectively synthesises the main changes, contrasting the original indoor-focused layout with the new, diversified service model. The information is accurate, and the comparison between the two plans is clear and logical throughout. You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a well-developed summary that meets the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that group information by theme (original vs. redesigned), and a concise summary. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In the original layout', 'In contrast', and 'Notably' is natural and helps guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of the café's development. The flow of ideas is smooth, and the progression from the general layout to specific features is handled with precision, ensuring the reader can easily follow the spatial changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for describing diagrams. Phrases such as 'significantly reorganised', 'specialised stations', 'diversified food service options', and 'extended the café outward' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is not only sufficient for the task but also shows a level of sophistication that allows for clear and concise descriptions of the spatial changes. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is consistently appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the introductory participial phrase in the first paragraph and the contrastive structure in the final paragraph, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage long sentences, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent, reflecting the shift from the original state to the current redesigned state effectively.

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

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