Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
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 7.0)
The plans illustrate the change that were made to a college cafe, comparing its original layout with its current design.
Overall, the cafe has been considerably redesigned, with several new facilities added, including a takeway section, a coffee bar, a salad bar and outdoor section.
Before the redesign, the kitchen was situated in the upper-left corner, with a serving area for food and drinks below it. In the central part of the cafe, there were tables and chairs, while two staff dining rooms occupied the upper-middle section. The toilets were located in the bottom-right corner, and a bin was placed beside the entrance on the right.
Following the redesign, the kitchen remains unchanged, but the former serving area has been replaced by a hot-meals section. The two staff dining rooms have been removed and replaced by a takeaway food counter and a coffee bar. On the left side, a salad bar has been added. In addition, the bin has been replaced by recycling bins, and a large outdoor seating area has been created along the bottom of the cafe.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of the college cafe before and after its redesign. A clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the most significant changes such as the addition of the takeaway section, coffee bar, salad bar, and outdoor seating area. The student successfully highlights both the changes and the features that remained the same, such as the kitchen and toilets. The details are well-selected and accurately reflect the visual data provided in the prompt, with no noticeable omissions or misinterpretations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overview to a description of the original layout, and finally detailing the changes made in the present layout. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons, such as 'Before the redesign' and 'Following the redesign'. Paragraphing is handled well, ensuring each section has a distinct focus. Referencing is clear throughout, and the progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task describing a map or plan. Words and phrases such as 'considerably redesigned', 'situated', 'occupied', and 'remains unchanged' are used effectively. There is good precision in describing spatial locations and transformations, such as 'former serving area' and 'replaced by'. Minor typographical errors, such as 'takeway' instead of 'takeaway' in the overview, occur, but they do not impede communication and are outweighed by the generally natural and precise word choices.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include 'The plans illustrate the change that were made to a college cafe...' and 'Before the redesign, the kitchen was situated in the upper-left corner...'. There is a minor grammatical slip in the opening sentence ('the change that were made' instead of 'changes'), but the majority of sentences are error-free. Punctuation is accurate, and clause structures are handled with confidence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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