Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The plans illustrate the changes made to a college café following its redesign.

Overall, the café has been significantly reorganised, with several new facilities added, including a takeaway food area, a coffee bar, a salad bar and outdoor seating. In contrast, the kitchen and toilets have remained in their original locations.

Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the upper-left section and contained a serving area for all food and drinks. Two staff dining rooms were located in the centre of the café, while most of the remaining space was used for tables and chairs. There was also a bin on the right-hand side and a toilet area in the bottom-right corner.

Today, the serving area has been replaced by a hot-meal section within the kitchen. The two staff dining rooms have been converted into a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar has also been added along the left wall, while the previous bin has been replaced by recycling bins.

Another major change is the addition of outdoor seating along the bottom of the café, together with a barbecue area on the lower-left side. The tables and chairs inside remain, although the entrance to the café has been relocated to the bottom wall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1 by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the changes shown in the two plans of the college cafe. The overview effectively captures the major transformations, such as the addition of the takeaway area, coffee bar, salad bar, and outdoor seating, while correctly noting what remained unchanged, such as the kitchen and toilets. Specific details are accurately reported and well selected, including the conversion of staff dining rooms and the relocation of the entrance. There are no notable omissions, and comparisons are made effectively throughout the text, demonstrating a high level of task fulfillment that aligns with Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear and distinct overall progression from the introductory summary to specific details of the before and after states. Paragraphing is used very appropriately, separating the overview, the past layout, the current layout, and the remaining changes into logical blocks. Cohesive devices are handled naturally and effectively, as seen with phrases like 'In contrast,' 'Before the redesign,' and 'Today,' which help guide the reader through the spatial and temporal comparisons. Referencing is clear throughout, and the essay flows smoothly without any mechanical or repetitive transitions, reflecting solid Band 8 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to describing visual data and spatial layouts. Appropriate and precise terms are used, such as 'significantly reorganised,' 'occupied the upper-left section,' 'converted into,' and 'relocated.' There is a successful use of less common lexical items related to architecture and hospitality, such as 'takeaway food area,' 'barbecue area,' and 'recycling bins.' Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, with only very occasional minor awkwardness. Spelling and word formation are flawless, supporting clear communication and fitting comfortably into the Band 7.5 to 8 range, warranting a solid Band 7.5 score rounded to 8.0 or a strong 7.5; we award 7.5 for careful precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and passive constructions, such as 'following its redesign,' 'while most of the remaining space was used for tables,' and 'the serving area has been replaced by a hot-meal section.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over punctuation and grammar is very strong. Minor slips are virtually absent, and the control over tense shifts—moving smoothly between the past simple for the original layout and the present perfect for the current modifications—is handled exceptionally well, easily meeting the criteria for Band 8.

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