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 diagrams illustrate the layout of a college café before and after its redevelopment.

Overall, the café underwent considerable modernization, with several new facilities being introduced, including a takeaway area, coffee bar, salad bar, barbecue section and outdoor seating. However, the kitchen and toilets remained unchanged in both layouts.

Initially, the main serving area was located on the northern side, directly opposite the kitchen. In the redesigned café, this area was converted into a dedicated hot-meals section. Moreover, the former staff dining area was divided into two separate sections, consisting of a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. The ordinary bins were also replaced with recycling bins.

Regarding the remaining changes, a new salad bar was constructed to the left of the takeaway food area. In addition, a barbecue section and an outdoor seating facility were introduced, providing customers with more dining options. By contrast, no changes were made to either the kitchen or the toilets, both of which remained in their original locations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the major changes, such as the modernization and the addition of new facilities, while also identifying the areas that remained unchanged. The selection of key features is accurate, and you have successfully highlighted the transformation of the serving area and the introduction of the outdoor seating and barbecue section. The information is well-selected and logically grouped, providing a clear comparison between the two plans. The response is well-structured and covers all significant developments without omitting any major details, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview, the internal layout changes, and the external additions. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', 'Moreover', 'Regarding the remaining changes', and 'By contrast' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the spatial changes described in the diagrams. The structure is coherent and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing diagrams and changes. Phrases such as 'underwent considerable modernization', 'dedicated hot-meals section', and 'providing customers with more dining options' show a good level of precision. The vocabulary is varied and used accurately to describe the specific features of the café. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or precise descriptive verbs could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical control is strong and supports the clear communication of the information provided in the plans.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy with a variety of sentence structures. You have successfully used both simple and complex sentences, such as 'In the redesigned café, this area was converted into a dedicated hot-meals section' and 'The ordinary bins were also replaced with recycling bins.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The use of passive voice is appropriate for describing the changes to the layout. The writing is fluent, and the control over complex structures is consistent, which is indicative of a high band score.

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