Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12
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 maps illustrate the information about how collage cafe was seen in past and how it looks like after rebuild nowadays .
To start with , in past , the cafe was build in rectangular shape . kitchen was located in the north side and below serving area was seen all type of food and drinks was available in area . in the right side of serving area two staff dining room was located and in the center of the cafe tabels and chairs was showed . toilets was located in the south -east corner and upper side bin .
Moving further , nowadays , there are many changes are took place . staff tabels has been removed and take away food or coffee bar are added .replacing serving area and hot meals has been new constructed . kitchen and tables or chairs has been remain same . toilets has been also on same place there is no change in it . but in the left side salad bar and barbecue has been manufactured . outside the cafe outdoor seating has been added .
Overall , there are many changes has been taken place .the main change is remove staff chair , serving area and added new food point , coffee bar hot meal . kitchen or toilets has been remain stable .
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 attempts to cover the main features of the two maps comparing the college cafe before and after its redesign. The student successfully identifies key permanent elements such as the kitchen and toilets, as well as major additions like the coffee bar, salad bar, barbecue, and outdoor seating area. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting spatial locations (for instance, misinterpreting parts of the layout or describing bins and staff rooms inaccurately) and the comparisons lack depth. Furthermore, the overview paragraph is repetitive and lacks a fully developed summary of the overarching trends. These shortcomings place the response at Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps establish a basic structural framework, but the logical progression and overall coherence are noticeably weak. Transitional phrases such as 'To start with', 'Moving further', and 'Overall' are used, but they are often mechanically applied rather than meaningfully connecting ideas. Additionally, referencing is frequently unclear, and the internal cohesion within paragraphs is hampered by erratic punctuation and run-on sentences. There is a lack of smooth flow between sentences, resulting in a somewhat disjointed reading experience. This aligns closely with the Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with noticeable spelling errors like 'collage' instead of 'college', 'tabels', and grammatical slips in word formation. While the writer attempts to use task-specific vocabulary related to the maps (such as 'serving area', 'kitchen', 'toilets', 'coffee bar'), the range is limited and minimally adequate. Less common lexical items are either absent or inaccurately deployed (e.g., 'have been remain same'). Word choice errors occasionally cause minor confusion for the reader. These limitations are characteristic of a Band 5 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
Grammatical control is weak throughout the response. The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, but these attempts are frequently flawed, as seen in passive voice errors ('the cafe was build', 'are took place', 'has been new constructed', 'has been remain same'). Punctuation is also problematic, with spaces incorrectly placed before commas and periods. Frequent errors in tense consistency and verb formation cause considerable difficulty for the reader. Therefore, the grammatical accuracy and range fall firmly into the Band 5 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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