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 plans below illustrate a college cafe before it was renovated and how it looks now.

Overall, the layout has transformed significantly. While some structures were rearranged, others were also introduced and demolished. Additionally, an outdoor seating area was introduced.

Before redesigning, the north-eastern part had a kitchen and a serving area for all food and drinks. Currently, the serving area has been replaced by hot meals while the kitchen remained unchanged. Although the central area that was initially covered by tables and chairs remained the same, a salad bar has been introduced on its left. The bin that was situated on the right side was expanded to a recycling bin but the toilets on the right corner remained unchanged.

The staff room area that was originally located near the serving area has been changed to a place for take-away food and a coffee bar. A barbecue and an outdoor seating area has been introduced on the southern region which was initially unused.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all key features of the two plans, including the kitchen, serving area, seating, and the new additions like the salad bar and outdoor area. The overview is clear and highlights the significant transformation of the layout. The information is logically selected and reported, providing a good summary of the changes. The student successfully makes comparisons between the 'before' and 'after' states, such as noting that the kitchen remained unchanged while the staff room was repurposed. The response is well-focused and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by location and function. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Additionally', 'Although', and 'initially' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general overview from the specific details. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the information easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of relevant terms such as 'renovated', 'rearranged', 'demolished', 'repurposed', and 'transformed'. There is a good attempt to use precise language to describe the changes, such as 'expanded to a recycling bin'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and fits the context well, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'uncommon' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. However, the word choice is consistently natural and precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('While some structures were rearranged...', 'Although the central area...'). Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is a minor subject-verb agreement error in the final paragraph ('A barbecue and an outdoor seating area has been introduced' should be 'have been introduced'), but this does not impede communication. Punctuation is generally correct, and the variety of structures used is sufficient for this type of task.

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

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