Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18
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 two maps show the layout of a college cafe before and after its redesign.
Overall, the cafe has been changed significantly. While the main dining area and kitchen remain in the same place, new food areas and outdoor seating have been added, and some old facilities have been removed or changed.
Before the redesign, the kitchen was in the top left corner, with a serving area for all food and drink inside it. In the middle, there were two small staff dining rooms, each with a round table. Most of the space was for tables and chairs. On the right side, there was a bin near the entrance and toilets in the bottom right corner.
Today, the kitchen is still in the same place, but the serving area is now only for hot meals. The two staff rooms have been converted into a take away food area and a coffee bar. A salad bar has been added on the left wall. The bin has been replaced by recycling bins and the toilet door has been moved. Outside, at the bottom, there is a new barbecue area and outdoor seating with five tables.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear comparison between the two maps. The response successfully highlights the main changes, such as the addition of the outdoor seating area, the barbecue, the salad bar, and the conversion of the staff rooms into a take away food area and a coffee bar. An effective overview is included in the second paragraph, summarising the primary transformations. The selection of features is accurate and reflects the provided visual data, with only a very minor observation error regarding the toilet door position, which does not detract from the overall clarity and thoroughness of the response. The information is well-supported by details from the diagrams.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organised and easy to follow. It begins with an introduction defining the maps, followed by a concise overview paragraph, a detailed paragraph describing the original layout, and a final paragraph detailing the current layout. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different stages and perspectives of the visual data. Cohesive devices such as 'Before the redesign', 'Today', and 'Outside' are used effectively to guide the reader through the spatial changes. Referencing is clear throughout, and the logical progression from past to present is well maintained.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for an Academic Task 1 response. Words and phrases related to spatial descriptions and architectural changes, such as 'layout', 'redesign', 'converted', and 'replaced', are used accurately. There is effective lexical variety in describing the locations ('top left corner', 'left wall', 'bottom right corner'). While the vocabulary is generally natural and precise, it lacks some of the more advanced, sophisticated lexical items that would justify a higher band. However, spelling and word choice are accurate throughout.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writer displays good control of grammar and punctuation. A variety of sentence structures is used successfully, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While the main dining area and kitchen remain in the same place, new food areas and outdoor seating have been added'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and tenses are handled correctly, shifting appropriately from the past tense for the original layout to the present tense for the current layout. Minor errors are virtually absent, demonstrating a high level of grammatical accuracy.
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