Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 given map illustrates the various information about a college cafe, after construction the shows additional change like extra seats.

Overall, as compare to past cafe has any differences and many additional areas like outdoor sitting area.

To begin with, before redesign, college cafe had enough extra space. In the comparison of kitchen, it remain at same place. Serving area converted into hot meals. In past cafe had two rooms , which was available only for staff, but after renovation rooms changes into take away food and coffee bar. Toilets also remains same at south west corner.

Additionally, bins transformed into recycling bins, just opposite side of bins cafe add salad bar. Other facilities also installed such as outdoor sitting area , just beside the area there is barbecue portion.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified some key features of the cafe redesign, such as the addition of the outdoor seating and the conversion of the staff rooms, the description is quite brief and lacks a detailed overview of the spatial changes. The summary is underdeveloped, and several areas of the plan are not described with sufficient clarity or detail. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive report that covers all significant changes shown in the diagrams, including a clear comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally awkward, such as 'In the comparison of kitchen, it remain at same place.' The transition between sentences is often mechanical, and the lack of sufficient length makes the overall structure feel incomplete. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, moving logically from one feature to the next to guide the reader through the changes.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'after construction the shows additional change' and 'barbecue portion.' While the meaning is generally conveyed, the range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate a higher level of control. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to describing maps and changes, such as 'renovated,' 'relocated,' 'expanded,' or 'transformed,' and ensure that your collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('it remain at same place,' 'rooms changes') and missing articles ('before redesign,' 'at south west corner'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. These errors, while not always preventing communication, are frequent enough to distract the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically verb tenses and the correct use of articles, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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