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 diagrams illustrate how a college cafe was developed following a redesign plan.

Overall, despite retaining some original features, the cafe has been significantly transformed and expanded. The most notable changes include the addition of new facilities and the removal of the staff dining rooms.

Prior to the redesign, the staff dining rooms were situated in the middle of the main room, whereas tables and chairs were placed all over the remaining area. In the bottom right corner, toilets were located, and next to them, a bin could be seen. Meanwhile, on the northern side of the building, the kitchen and serving area could be found.

By the present day, the staff dining rooms have been transformed into a take-away food and coffee bar area. Aside from that, the original bin has been expanded and converted into recycling bins. A new outdoor seating area has been built just outside the southern part of the main room. Furthermore, a salad bar and barbecue area have been introduced; the salad bar is positioned on the left side inside the main room, while the barbecue area is set on the far left of the outdoor seating. Finally, the initial serving area has been changed to a hot meals area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student covers all key features of the two diagrams well, successfully identifying the major transformations, such as the removal of the staff dining rooms and the addition of the outdoor seating, salad bar, and barbecue area. An appropriate overall trend is stated in the introduction. The comparisons between the past layout and current layout are clearly reported. The response is accurate in its details and fulfills the requirements of Academic Task 1 effectively, aligning closely with Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to overview and detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct sections for the past layout and current changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Prior to the redesign', 'Meanwhile', and 'By the present day' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparison, ensuring clear logical transitions throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for a visual summary task, using terms such as 'transformed', 'redesign', 'positioned', and 'reconfigured'. Less common phrases like 'notable changes' and 'original features' are integrated well. Word choice is generally precise, and there are no significant spelling errors that impede communication. The lexical range is adequate for a solid Band 7 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Examples such as 'Prior to the redesign, the staff dining rooms were situated...' and 'the salad bar is positioned on the left side...' demonstrate good control over grammar and tense consistency (using past tense for the old plan and present for the current layout). Punctuation is accurate and grammatical errors are absent or extremely minor.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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