Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15

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 layout of a college cafe before and after its redesign.

Overall, it is clear that the cafe has undergone several significant changes. The original kitchen and serving area have been retained, while the staff dining rooms have been replaced by facilities such as a hot-meals section, a salad bar, a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. In addition, outdoor seating and a barbecue area have been added.

Before the redesign, the cafe consisted mainly of a kitchen with a serving area in front of it. There were also staff dining rooms, while tables and chairs were arranged in the main hall. On the right-hand side, there were toilets and bins.

Following the redesign, a hot-meals section was added in front of the kitchen, with a salad bar located on the left. The former staff dining rooms were replaced by a takeaway food section and a coffee bar. The tables and chairs in the main hall remained, as did the toilets and bins on the right-hand side, although the latter were replaced by recycling bins. Finally, an outdoor seating area with a barbecue facility was added.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features of the college cafe before and after its redesign. The overview effectively captures the primary transformations, such as the retention of the kitchen and the addition of the outdoor seating and food facilities. Specific details, including the new salad bar, takeaway area, and recycling bins, are accurately reported and well-integrated into the comparison. The response is fully grounded in the provided visual data without any significant omissions or misinterpretations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory sentence, moves into a well-crafted overview paragraph, and then systematically details the past and present layouts in separate paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Before the redesign', 'Following the redesign', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the spatial changes. Paragraphing is logical and appropriate, ensuring seamless transitions between the original plan and current updates.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and precise range of vocabulary suitable for describing spatial changes and diagrams. Phrases such as 'undergone several significant changes', 'retained', and 'former staff dining rooms' show good control of less common lexical items. Word choices and collocations are accurate, and vocabulary is appropriately varied to avoid unnecessary repetition while discussing the cafe layout and its various food service areas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student utilizes a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures with a high degree of accuracy. Complex sentences, such as 'The original kitchen and serving area have been retained, while the staff dining rooms have been replaced...', are handled with good control over punctuation and clause structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any minor slips do not impede communication or clarity in describing the architectural changes.

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