Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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 two plans illustrate the layout of a college café before its redesign and its current arrangement.

Overall, the café has undergone significant changes, particularly with the introduction of several new food and dining facilities. The kitchen and toilets have remained in roughly the same locations, while the former staff dining rooms have been replaced by a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. In addition, an outdoor seating area and barbecue have been added.

Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the north-western corner of the café and contained a serving area for all food and drinks. Two staff dining rooms were situated beside the kitchen, while the remainder of the café consisted mainly of tables and chairs. A bin was located against the eastern wall, close to the toilets in the south-eastern corner.

Today, the kitchen remains in the same position, although its former serving area has been converted into a hot-meals section. The two staff dining rooms have been removed and replaced by a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar has also been installed along the western wall of the main seating area. The original bin has been replaced by recycling bins near the toilets.

The most notable addition is the outdoor area. Tables and chairs have been placed outside the southern wall, creating an outdoor seating space, while a barbecue has been added at the south-western corner. The main indoor tables and chairs have been retained, although the entrance arrangements have also been modified to provide access to the newly created outdoor area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key changes, including the conversion of the staff dining rooms, the addition of the outdoor seating and barbecue, and the installation of the salad bar. The overview clearly highlights the most significant transformations, and the body paragraphs provide a logical, detailed comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states. You have effectively used spatial language (e.g., 'north-western corner', 'eastern wall') to describe the layout, which makes the information easy to follow. The response fully satisfies the requirements of the task by reporting the main features and making relevant comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, overview, and specific details of the layout. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Before the redesign', 'Today', and 'The most notable addition' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. The referencing is precise, and the flow between sentences is smooth, ensuring that the reader can easily track the changes described. The structure is coherent and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and plans. Phrases such as 'undergone significant changes', 'converted into', 'installed', and 'modified' are used accurately. You avoid repetition and show a good command of collocation, such as 'entrance arrangements' and 'takeaway-food area'. The vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey the information clearly and concisely without any noticeable errors in word choice or spelling. The level of lexical control is very high.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your control of grammar is excellent. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('have been replaced', 'have been retained') and subordinate clauses ('although its former serving area has been converted...'), which are essential for this type of task. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The writing is fluent, and the majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical flexibility and accuracy throughout the response.

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