Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13
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 picture displays the plan of a renovated college cafe after and how it appears before the renovations.
Overall, a cafe structure has beautifully redesigned with so many new rooms and a proper outdoor seating area for the students. While a cafe before renovations was just confined to a small place with indoor seating area only.
A cafe was initially confined to a limited area with basic features. It has a kitchen in the top left with table chairs in the center of the room and toilets at the lower right corner of the space. The entrance was located on the right side beside the bins and furthermore it has a staff dining rooms also which are located just at the entrance and exit gates
A redesigned cafe has significant changes in the structure with multiple entrance and exit gates, not only it includes indoor seating it also has introduced an outdoor seating area for everyone which includes a barbecue area too. while indoor area has also some new features which are salad bar, take away corner and a coffee bar. whereas toilets and bins are on the same area.
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 candidate attempts to summarise the information by comparing the two plans of the college cafe. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the main changes such as the expansion of space and the addition of outdoor seating. However, the response lacks sufficient detail regarding specific spatial relocations and measurements. Some key features, such as the exact positions of the counters and specific seating arrangements, are described vaguely or incorrectly (e.g., placing bins and toilets in the same area without clear reference to structural changes). Furthermore, the introduction reverses the chronological order of the plans, stating the renovated plan is shown 'after and how it appears before'. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, warranting a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into four paragraphs, which provides a basic structural framework, but the logical progression and overall arrangement are somewhat flawed. The introduction and overview are placed at the very beginning, followed by separate paragraphs for the 'before' and 'after' layouts. However, the transitions between ideas can be abrupt or mechanical. For instance, sentences are often strung together with coordinating conjunctions like 'and furthermore' or 'whereas' without fully clear referencing. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs lacks seamless flow. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive. Overall organisation is present, but progression lacks clarity, aligning the response with Band 5.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to architecture and facility layout, such as 'renovated', 'indoor seating area', 'barbecue area', and 'salad bar'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices throughout the text, such as 'A cafe structure has beautifully redesigned' (missing passive voice) and 'at the lower right corner of the space'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success, and spelling or word-choice inaccuracies occasionally appear. Because the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic meaning despite errors that cause some difficulty for the reader, a score of 5.0 is appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty. There are multiple grammatical errors, including missing auxiliary verbs ('a cafe structure has beautifully redesigned'), incorrect prepositions ('at the lower right corner'), tense confusion ('appears before the renovations' instead of past tense), and run-on sentences lacking proper punctuation (e.g., 'not only it includes indoor seating it also has introduced...'). While these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning, their frequency noticeably impacts readability. The control of grammar and punctuation remains inconsistent throughout, fitting the Band 5.0 profile.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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