Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The maps illustrate the changes that took place in a college cafe before it was redesigned.
Overall, the cafe underwent significant development over the period. Several new facilities were constructed while some existing feature were either replaced or expanded. However a number of land marks remained unchanged.
On the left side of the maps, the kitchen was located in the top of north while in present the kitchen was stay unchanged. Bellow of the kitchen serving area was was there which was replace by hot meals in present day. Nowadays, salad bar and Barbecue was were established in a college cafe whereas a found in west side. The staff dining room was located in the middle center of the maps while was that was replaced by take away food and coffee bar in presentday. Tables and chairs were resized study. The bottom part of the south outdoor seating was installed.
Similarly, On the right side of the maps, the recycling bins was located in eastern part of a maps which was stay unchange However expanded to big. The Toilets was located in the bottom side of eastern south which remained unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign, identifying key changes such as the addition of the salad bar and the reconfiguration of seating. However, the description is somewhat disorganized and lacks precision in spatial referencing. For instance, phrases like 'top of north' and 'bottom side of eastern south' are confusing and do not accurately convey the layout. While the overview is present, the reporting of information is inconsistent, and some details are unclear, such as the mention of 'tables and chairs were resized study'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using clear, standard directional language and ensuring all major changes are described with greater clarity and logical flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Bellow of the kitchen' and 'Similarly, On the right side' are used to transition, but the internal logic within paragraphs is weak. Referencing is frequently unclear; for example, it is difficult to follow what 'that' refers to in 'while was that was replaced'. The progression of ideas is hindered by these issues, making the text feel disjointed at times. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices and incorrect collocations, such as 'kitchen was stay unchanged' and 'resized study'. The use of 'land marks' is also inappropriate for describing furniture or room layouts in a cafe. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning of the task, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. You should focus on learning specific vocabulary related to describing maps and changes, such as 'relocated', 'transformed', 'extended', or 'converted', and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('recycling bins was located', 'Toilets was located') and tense usage ('kitchen was stay unchanged'). Sentence structures are often simple or contain errors in word order, such as 'whereas a found in west side'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, these are often faulty, leading to confusion. To improve, you need to focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are used consistently when describing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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