Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The plans compare the layout of a college cafe before and after it was redesigned. Overall, the cafe underwent several changes, including the addition of a salad bar, a barbecue area and outdoor seating. Some existing areas, such as the serving area and staff dining rooms, were converted into a hot-meals area, a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar. However, the kitchen, toilets and indoor seating area remained largely unchanged.

Both designs have the kitchen in the north-west corner, the toilets in the south-east corner, and tables and chairs in the central area. The original bin was replaced by recycling bins. A salad bar was added to the left side of the cafe, next to the tables and chairs. In addition, the cafe was extended to include a barbecue area and outdoor seating.

The former serving area has been converted into an area for hot meals. Meanwhile, the former staff dining rooms have been converted into a takeaway-food area and a coffee bar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the changes shown in the two maps. The response successfully identifies the main overall trends, such as the additions of the salad bar, barbecue area, and outdoor seating, as well as the conversion of the former serving area and staff dining rooms. Key spatial relationships and unchanged features, such as the kitchen and toilets, are accurately reported. The information is fully grounded in the provided visual data with no noticeable omissions or misinterpretations. This fulfills the Band 8 descriptor for covering all parts of the task well with well-developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with a strong introductory paragraph that includes an overview of the main changes. The subsequent paragraphs are logically sequenced, moving from permanent features and additions to conversions of specific rooms. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', 'In addition', and 'Meanwhile' are used appropriately to link ideas and guide the reader smoothly through the comparison. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, satisfying the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Appropriate collocation and vocabulary are used to describe spatial changes, such as 'underwent several changes', 'converted into', 'largely unchanged', and 'replaced by'. While the vocabulary is generally standard rather than highly sophisticated, it communicates the information clearly and effectively. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, such as 'The plans compare the layout...' and 'Some existing areas, such as the serving area and staff dining rooms, were converted into...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and control over grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Verb tenses are used accurately to contrast the past state with the present layout (e.g., 'have been converted', 'remained largely unchanged'). This performance demonstrates the control and accuracy associated with a Band 8 score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.