Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The two maps illustrate the layout of a college café before and after it was redesigned.

Overall, after the redesign, the café underwent major changes, including the addition of outdoor seating and a hot-meals section. However, some areas, such as the kitchen and toilets, remained unchanged.

In the north-western area, the kitchen remained unchanged, while the serving area for all food and drinks was converted into a hot-meals section. In the centre, the two staff dining rooms were converted into two different facilities: one became a takeaway food area, while the other was turned into a coffee bar.

Several other changes were also made to the café. On the eastern side, the original bin was replaced by recycling bins, while the toilets remained unchanged. Regarding the new facilities, a salad bar was added on the western side of the café. Outside the café, two new doors were added, providing access to a new outdoor seating area. Furthermore, a barbecue area was added outside the café.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the two maps showing the college cafe before and after its redesign. The overview in the second paragraph effectively captures the main trends, noting major additions such as outdoor seating and a hot-meals section alongside features that remained unchanged, like the kitchen and toilets. Specific details are accurately reported, such as the conversion of staff dining rooms into a takeaway area and coffee bar, and the addition of a salad bar and barbecue area. The information is well-selected, logically grouped, and completely answers the prompt without any omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The information is structured logically from an introductory overview into detailed body paragraphs that systematically describe the northern, central, and eastern/external changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in grouping related features together. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the north-western area', 'In the centre', and 'Furthermore' are deployed naturally to guide the reader through the comparisons without being intrusive or mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing functional terms related to maps and redesigns, such as 'layout', 'converted', 'replaced', and 'facilities'. There is good use of less common items and precise descriptive language, including 'north-western area', 'recycling bins', and 'outdoor seating area'. Word choice is generally accurate and natural, with only occasional standard phrasing, allowing the message to be communicated clearly and effectively throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a good variety of complex and compound sentence structures, such as 'Overall, after the redesign, the café underwent major changes, including the addition of outdoor seating...' and 'In the north-western area, the kitchen remained unchanged, while the serving area for all food and drinks was converted into a hot-meals section.' The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical control and accurate punctuation. Minor slips are virtually absent, placing the grammar comfortably within the higher band expectations.

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

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