Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The maps show the changes that have been made to a café from the past to the present.

Overall, the café has been redesigned to provide more facilities for customers. The main changes are the removal of the staff dining rooms, the addition of a coffee bar and takeaway food area, and the creation of an outdoor seating area.

In the past, the kitchen was located in the top-left corner, with a serving area for all food and drinks. There were two staff dining rooms next to the kitchen. Most of the remaining space contained tables and chairs. Toilets were situated in the bottom-right corner, while a bin was placed on the right-hand wall.

Today, the kitchen remains in the same position, but the serving area has been replaced by a hot-meals section. The two staff dining rooms have been changed into a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar has also been added on the left side of the café, while recycling bins are now located on the right. Finally, the café has gained a barbecue and an outdoor seating area along the bottom.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main changes, noting the shift toward more customer-oriented facilities. The report covers all key features, such as the kitchen, dining areas, and the addition of the outdoor space. The information is well-selected, and the comparisons between the 'past' and 'today' are accurate and easy to follow. The response is well-structured, ensuring that the reader can clearly visualize the transformation of the cafe layout. No significant information is omitted, and the summary is balanced and professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that contrast the past and present layouts. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In the past', 'Today', and 'Finally', to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two time periods. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is consistent throughout the text, making it very easy to follow the spatial changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, including terms like 'redesigned', 'facilities', 'situated', and 'transformed'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'changed into', using 'converted into' or 'repurposed as' would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. Overall, the vocabulary is accurate and effectively conveys the intended meaning without any errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The maps show the changes that have been made...' and 'The kitchen remains in the same position, but the serving area has been replaced...'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses is consistent, correctly using the past tense for the previous layout and the present tense for the current one. The writing is clear and error-free.

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