Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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 8.0)

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

Overall, it is clear that the café has been considerably modernised, with several new facilities added, including a takeaway food area, a coffee bar, a salad bar and outdoor seating. Meanwhile, the kitchen and toilets have remained in their original locations.

Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the upper-left corner of the café, with a serving area for all food and drinks located immediately below it. The majority of the remaining indoor space was taken up by tables and chairs. Two staff dining rooms were situated in the upper-middle section, while the toilets were located in the bottom-right corner. A bin was positioned against the right-hand wall.

Following the redesign, the kitchen has remained unchanged, although the former serving area has been replaced by a hot-meals section. The two staff dining rooms have been removed, and this space has been converted into a takeaway food area and a coffee bar. In addition, a salad bar has been installed along the left-hand wall.

Several changes have also been made outside the café. A barbecue has been added in the bottom-left corner, while a number of tables and chairs have been provided in an outdoor seating area. Finally, the original bin has been replaced by recycling bins. The toilets, however, have remained in the same position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the changes shown in the two maps. The response presents a well-developed overview in the second paragraph, highlighting key modernisations such as the addition of takeaway food, a coffee bar, a salad bar, and outdoor seating. Specific details are accurately reported and contrasted with the previous layout, including the retention of the kitchen and toilets, the removal of the staff dining rooms, and the addition of a barbecue and recycling bins. There are no omissions of major features or inaccuracies regarding spatial locations, meeting the criteria for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The report exhibits a logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is structured effectively, beginning with an introduction and a clear overall summary, followed by a detailed description of the past layout and a sequential breakdown of the current layout. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the visual data. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Before the redesign', 'Following the redesign', and 'In addition' are managed skilfully to guide the reader seamlessly through the comparison without appearing mechanical or intrusive.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and accurate range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Less common lexical items and precise collocation are used skillfully throughout the text, such as 'considerably modernised', 'occupied the upper-left corner', 'retained their original locations', and 'converted into a takeaway food area'. Word choices are precise, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors, allowing the response to read very naturally and fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writer employs a wide range of complex sentence structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Excellent command is demonstrated over relative clauses, passive forms, and subordinate structures, as seen in sentences like 'Before the redesign, the kitchen occupied the upper-left corner of the café, with a serving area for all food and drinks located immediately below it.' The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, with only rare, natural-sounding constructions that reflect a sophisticated level of grammatical control.

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